U.S. imposes drug-related sanctions on 11 Mexicans, including a judge and a former governor

The United States imposed sanctions on Friday on 11 Mexicans , including a judge and a former governor, over their involvement with drug trafficking organizations , the Treasury Department said.

Ten groups were also designated in the sanctions related to two drug trafficking operations including the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación ( CJNG ) and the Los Cuinis Drug Trafficking Organization ( Los Cuinis ), Treasury said in a statement.

The magistrate judge , Isidro Avelar Gutiérrez , accepted bribes from drug trafficking organizations in exchange for favorable rulings for their senior members, it said.

The former governor of the Mexican state of Nayarit , Roberto Sandoval Castañeda , was designated for corruption activities including accepting bribes and misappropriating state funds , Treasury said.

“Officials such as Isidro Avelar Gutiérrez and Roberto Sandoval Castaneda callously enrich themselves at the expense of their fellow citizens,” said Sigal Mandelker , Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence .

“Whether they are receiving bribes from narcotics trafficking organizations or engaging in a variety of other illicit activities , these and other corrupt officials will face serious consequences including being cut off from the U.S. financial system.”

The Treasury action was coordinated with Mexican officials.

A senior member of the CJNG cartel

, Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytan , who is also known as “ El Sapo ,” was sanctioned over kidnappings and numerous killings. His wife, Liliana Rosas Camba , was sanctioned for handling business activities and laundering drug money, Treasury said.

Three of Sandoval Castañeda’s family members were sanctioned for holding his “ ill-gotten assets in their names ,” it said.

The sanctions were designated under the Kingpin Act and the Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act , which targets human rights and corruption abuses, Treasury said.