Mario Estrada y Javier Castillo, binomio presidencial de UCN, estaba inscrito desde el 15 de febrero. (Foto Prensa Libre: Hemeroteca PL)

La captura fue este 17 de abril y mañana comparecerá ante una corte federal, presidida por el juez Jonathan Goodman.

El equipo de la UCN no ha respondido a las llamadas de Prensa Libre y Guatevisión para obtener una postura al respecto.

Junto a Estrada fue detenido Juan Pablo González Mayorga. Ambos enfrentan cargos de conspiración para importar cocaína a los Estados Unidos y conspiración para usar y transportar ametralladoras. Si los dos son declarados culpables podrían enfrentar una sentencia mínima obligatoria de 10 años de prisión y una pena máxima de cadena perpetua.

Según una nota del Departamento de Justicia, el fiscal de Manhattan, Geoffrey S. Berman, dijo: “Como se dijo, Estrada y González conspiraron para solicitar dinero del Cartel de Sinaloa para financiar un plan corrupto para elegir al presidente de Guatemala. A cambio, los dos supuestamente prometieron ayudar al cartel a utilizar los puertos y aeropuertos guatemaltecos para exportar toneladas de cocaína a los Estados Unidos. Además, como se alega, Estrada y González intentaron organizar los asesinatos de rivales políticos. Gracias a la DEA, Estrada no tiene posibilidades de ser elegido en Guatemala, pero él y González enfrentan la justicia en los Estados Unidos “.

La nota oficial cita al agente especial de la DEA, Adolphus P. Wright, quien dijo: “La División de Campo de la DEA en Miami está muy contenta con los arrestos de Mario Estrada Orellana y Juan González Mayorga. La acción de hoy es el resultado directo de la fuerte asociación con nuestros homólogos guatemaltecos. Junto con nuestros socios internacionales encargados de hacer cumplir la ley, continuaremos nuestros esfuerzos para evitar que el tráfico de drogas ilegales corrompa los sistemas políticos justos de nuestros vecinos de América Central y América del Sur, ya que también nos esforzamos por evitar que esa actividad dañe a los Estados Unidos.

Compartí con varias familias de Camotán, Chiquimula donde existe mucha pobreza; problemas de desnutrición y agua potable; serán de los primeros que me comprometo a apoyar y trabajar. #ComidaSeguridadTrabajo pic.twitter.com/Bdjw6rkZPp — Mario Estrada (@MarioEstradaO) April 17, 2019

Estrada había recibido credencial como candidato presidencial el 15 de febrero último y contaba con inmunidad en Guatemala.

La investigación contra Estrada data desde diciembre de 2018.

“La DEA ha estado investigando a varias personas (la Conspiración de Estrada) que intentaron solicitar fondos a los carteles internacionales de la droga para apoyar la campaña presidencial de Estrada (la Campaña de Estrada). Durante algunas de estas negociaciones, miembros de la Conspiración de Estrada, entre ellos Estrada y González interactuaron con supuestos miembros y asociados del cartel de Sinaloa, una poderosa organización internacional de narcotráfico con sede en México, que de hecho eran fuentes confidenciales, actuando bajo la dirección de la DEA”, agrega la comunicación oficial.

Las autoridades estadounidenses cuentan con video y audio de reuniones y demás comunicaciones donde Estrada y González “solicitaron millones de dólares en ingresos por drogas del cartel de Sinaloa para apoyar la campaña”, revela el Departamento de Justicia.

A cambio del apoyo financiero del Cartel de Sinaloa, agrega, Estrada y Gónzalez “acordaron que si Estrada fuera elegido presidente de Guatemala, brindaría apoyo patrocinado por el Estado de Guatemala a las actividades de tráfico de drogas del cartel de Sinaloa. Entre otras cosas, acordaron proporcionar acceso sin restricciones a los aeropuertos y a los lugares de envío marítimo para que el cartel pueda transportar toneladas de cocaína a través de Guatemala y, finalmente, a los Estados Unidos”.

Matar a rivales

El candidato de UCN, según la pesquisa, ofreció nombrar a miembros del cartel de Sinaloa para cargos de alto rango en Guatemala para facilitar las actividades de tráfico de drogas.

Otro señalamiento grave, basado en informantes, es que Estrada y González ordenaron contratar sicarios para asesinar a sus rivales políticos para garantizarse una victoria, pero no se menciona a qué contendientes habría puesto en la mira. “Identificaron objetivos específicos por nombre y acordaron proporcionar armas de fuego a los sicarios, incluidos los AK-47, para llevar a cabo los asesinatos”, dice la acusación.

Reuniones en Florida y Guatemala

El 14 de febrero de 2019, González se reunió con otro informante y un oficial encubierto en un almacén de la DEA en Florida. Esa reunión fue grabada en audio y video.

Durante la reunión, el informante y el agente encubierto también mostraron a González aproximadamente US$5 millones en supuestas ganancias de medicamentos para la campaña Estrada.

El 27 de febrero Estrada se reunió con los dos informantes en un yate encubierto de la DEA en las cercanías de Miami. Este encuentro también fue grabado en audio y video.

Por aparte el 4 de marzo pasado, Estrada se reunió con otra persona y el informante en la oficina de Estrada en las cercanías de la capital. Ahí l candidato dijo que necesitaba con urgencia fondos del cartel de Sinaloa para pagar sus gastos.

Estrada y los informantes discutieron cómo podrían entregar el dinero del cartel. Estrada sugirió que usaran un yate para transportar el dinero, Luego sacó un mapa y demostró cómo el yate podía viajar desde Miami, a través de Cuba, antes de llegar a Guatemala.

El informante cuestionó si la Policía detectaría el yate, y Estrada respondió que esos riesgos estaban mitigados por el hecho de que el yate era de lujo, enarbola la bandera estadounidense y es navegada por ciudadanos norteamericanos.

Estrada explicó además que podría ser más fácil comprar un yate que pagar las tarifas de transporte que habían estado discutiendo.

El 5 de marzo, Estrada se reunió nuevamente con los informantes en la oficina del candidato. Estrada declaró, en sustancia y en parte, que estaba organizando la participación de otro equipo para llevar el saldo del dinero del cartel de Sinaloa a Guatemala porque él se había quedado sin dinero y su campaña se había estancado.

También declaró que estaba trabajando por separado con un narcotraficante con sede en Guatemala, cuyo nombre no se ha hecho público, que también apoyaba la candidatura de Estrada a la Presidencia. Estrada también le dijo a uno de los informantes que escuchó que las personas de otro cartel de la droga también querían proporcionar fondos.

Berman elogió los esfuerzos sobresalientes de las oficinas de la DEA en de Miami y en Guatemala, así como la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos.

Este caso está siendo manejado por la Unidad de Terrorismo y Narcóticos Internacionales de la Oficina. Los fiscales a cargo serán Mathew Laroche y Jason A. Richman.

“Los cargos contenidos en la demanda son meramente alegatos, y los acusados ​​se consideran inocentes hasta que se pruebe su culpabilidad”, finaliza la nota oficial.

Velásquez reacciona

Iván Velásquez, comisionado Internacional contra la Impunidad en Guatemala, en cuya gestión hubo investigaciones sobre financiamiento electoral ilícito, al cual llamó el pecado original de la democracia guatemalteca, y por el cual junto al Ministerio Público presentó acusaciones contra la UNE, FCN-Nación, Líder y Encuentro por Guatemala, Todos y PAN, se refirió a caso en Twitter: “Alguien se atreverá a decir que la captura en Miami del candidato presidencial de UCN por solicitar financiamiento electoral ilícito, constituye una injerencia indebida en el proceso electoral guatemalteco?

A propósito de la mención “injerencia indebida”, Luis Almagro, jefe de la Organización de Estados Americanos, y el presidente Jimmy Morales han criticado el papel que la comisión ha tenido con el Tribunal Supremo, con quien firmó un convenio de cooperación en agosto de 2018.

Alguien se atreverá a decir que la captura en Miami del candidato presidencial de UCN por solicitar financiamiento electoral ilícito, constituye una injerencia indebida en el proceso electoral guatemalteco? — Iván Velásquez Gómez (@Ivan_Velasquez_) April 17, 2019

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> Personas en prisión preventiva tienen derecho de votar, pero no podrán</s>GUATEMALA CITY, April 18 — A Guatemalan presidential candidate was arrested in Miami yesterday and charged with an elaborate plot to use drug cartel money to win the election and assassinate rivals, according to US officials, two months before voters head to the polls.

Mario Estrada, candidate of the centre-right National Change Union, who is polling far behind other rivals, is accused along with another man, Juan Pablo Gonzalez, of seeking between US$10 and $12 million (RM43.3 and RM49.6 million) from Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa Cartel to fund his campaign and transport cocaine into the United States.

“Estrada and Gonzalez conspired to solicit Sinaloa Cartel money to finance a corrupt scheme to elect Estrada president of Guatemala,” Geoffrey Berman, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement.

According to the statement, the two men pledged that if Estrada won the June 16 election, he would help the cartel transport drugs from Guatemalan airports and ports with the aid of complicit security officials.

The two also conspired to kill unnamed rival candidates, the US attorney’s statement said.

The statement added that since January, several meetings with both men in Miami and Guatemala designed to advance the plot were held and recorded, in most cases with both video and audio.

Officials with Estrada’s party did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It could not be immediately determined who was legally representing the two accused men.

US officials said the US Drug Enforcement Agency assisted with the investigation, as well as the Guatemalan government.

Estrada, a 58-year-old former congressman, has lagged far behind in presidential opinion polls, with less than 3 per cent support in one recent survey.

Alfredo Brito, a spokesman for Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, told Reuters the government would provide Estrada with the support needed to ensure his rights were respected “just like any Guatemalan citizen.”

Estrada “must clarify his legal situation given the accusations that have been made against him,” said Brito, who did not respond when asked to specify how the Guatemalan government assisted in the case.

The National Change Union party, which Estrada founded, holds just six seats in the 158-member Congress, and has typically supported the policies of Morales’ government.

Estrada and Gonzalez, also charged with a related weapons offense, could face life behind bars in the United States if convicted.

The presidential race has been led by Thelma Aldana, the country’s former attorney general; Zury Rios, the daughter of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt; and former first lady Sandra Torres. — Reuters</s>A Guatemalan politician who had dreams of becoming his nation's next president was arrested in Miami for allegedly promising Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel full access to his country's ports and airports for their drug trafficking in return for them funding his political campaign.

The candidate, Mario Estrada, 58, and an alleged accomplice, Juan Pablo González, 50, were both taken in by law enforcement agents on Wednesday.

Both men were charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and a related weapons offense. If convicted, they could spend up to life in prison.

Estrada and González were scheduled to appear Thursday before a federal magistrate in Miami on charges brought in New York, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a release.

'Estrada and Gonzalez conspired to solicit Sinaloa Cartel money to finance a corrupt scheme to elect Estrada president of Guatemala,' Berman said.

The Sinaloa Cartel was once headed by Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán before he was extradited to the United States.

'In return, the two allegedly promised to assist the cartel in using Guatemalan ports and airports to export tons of cocaine into the U.S.'

The presidential hopeful's apprehension took place a day after a meet-and-greet with future voters in the department of Chiquimula.

Estrada had told his running mate he was traveling to Miami to spend Holy Week and that he would return home Easter Sunday.

The former congressman was far behind in recent presidential polls, with less than 3 percent support in one recent survey.

The National Change Union party, which Estrada founded, holds just six seats in the 158-member Congress, and has typically supported the policies of President Jimmy Morales' government.

González joined the party two years ago and holds the title of deputy secretary.

Estrada's running mate, Javier Castillo, was taken aback by Estrada's arrest.

'We had no idea something like that was happening. I would never have been involved in something that was unusual,' he said during a press conference Thursday.

The political party's Secretary General, Jorge Passarelli, was quick to dismiss any notion that the group was financially backed by drug gangs.

'The little money we have is the product of political debt, and what some candidates have been able to give,' Passarelli.

'Our [financial] books are open.'

The prosecutor credited the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with building the case against the men with the aid of confidential sources.

'As further alleged, Estrada and Gonzalez attempted to arrange the assassinations of political rivals,' he said.

'Thanks to the DEA, Estrada stands no chance of election in Guatemala, but he and Gonzalez face justice in the United States.'

According to a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday, the DEA has been investigating several individuals since December after learning there were efforts to secure financing from international drug cartels to support Estrada's presidential campaign.

The evidence against the men includes video and audio communications, according to the complaint.

As part of his all out quest to become the Central American nation's next president, U.S. authorities said Estrada and Gonzalez had crafted an assassination plot with a list of names and agreed to provide hit men with firearms, including AK-47s, to carry out murders.</s>NEW YORK (AP) - A Guatemalan presidential candidate was arrested Wednesday in Miami on drug and weapons charges, accused of plotting to assassinate political rivals and to let drug dealers use Guatemala's ports and airports.

The candidate, Mario Amilcar Estrada Orellana, 58, and an alleged accomplice, Juan Pablo Gonzalez Mayorga, 50, were scheduled to appear Thursday before a federal magistrate in Miami on charges brought in New York, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a release.

"Estrada and Gonzalez conspired to solicit Sinaloa Cartel money to finance a corrupt scheme to elect Estrada president of Guatemala," Berman said. "In return, the two allegedly promised to assist the cartel in using Guatemalan ports and airports to export tons of cocaine into the U.S."

The prosecutor credited the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with building the case against the men with the aid of confidential sources.

"As further alleged, Estrada and Gonzalez attempted to arrange the assassinations of political rivals," he said. "Thanks to the DEA, Estrada stands no chance of election in Guatemala, but he and Gonzalez face justice in the United States."

Both men were charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and a related weapons offense.

It was unclear who will represent them when they appear before a federal court in Miami.

Adolphus P. Wright, a DEA official, said the investigation was aided by a strong partnership with Guatemalan law enforcement authorities.

"Together with our international law enforcement partners, we will continue our efforts to keep illegal drug trafficking from corrupting the just political systems of our Central and South American neighbors, as we also endeavor to prevent such activity from harming the United States," he said.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday, the DEA has been investigating several individuals since December after learning there were efforts to secure financing from international drug cartels to support Estrada's presidential campaign.

The evidence against the men includes video and audio communications, according to the complaint.

Authorities said Estrada and Gonzalez in the assassination plot identified specific targets by name and agreed to provide hit men with firearms, including AK-47s, to carry out murders.</s>The US Drug Enforcement Agency has been investigating the alleged conspiracy since December 2018

NEW YORK, USA – A Guatemalan presidential candidate has been charged with conspiring to import cocaine to the United States in a bid to secure cartel funds for his election, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Candidate Mario Amilcar Estrada Orellana and another alleged conspirator, Juan Pablo Gonzalez Mayorga, were arrested in Miami, the department said in a statement.

"As alleged, Estrada and Gonzalez conspired to solicit Sinaloa Cartel money to finance a corrupt scheme to elect Estrada president of Guatemala," US attorney Geoffrey Berman said in the statement, referring to a powerful Mexican drug-running organization.

"In return, the two allegedly promised to assist the cartel in using Guatemalan ports and airports to export tons of cocaine into the US," said Berman.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) had been investigating the alleged conspiracy since December 2018.

Both Estrada and Gonzalez "interacted with purported members and associates of the Sinaloa Cartel" who were actually DEA "confidential sources," the department said.

The two also allegedly directed the confidential sources "to hire hitmen to assassinate political rivals to ensure that Estrada was elected president of Guatemala," and allegedly agreed to provide them with weapons including Kalashnikov assault rifles to carry out the killings.

In addition to the alleged cocaine importation conspiracy, Estrada and Gonzalez have also been charged with conspiring to use and possess machineguns. – Rappler.com</s>NEW YORK — A presidential candidate in Guatemala has been arrested in Miami on drug charges.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman says Mario Amilcar Estrada Orellana promised to let a drug cartel use Guatemalan ports and airports.

He says Estrada and a second defendant also conspired to try to arrange the assassinations of political rivals. Estrada was arrested Wednesday in Miami along with fellow defendant Juan Pablo Gonzalez Mayorga.

Both were charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and a related weapons offense.

It was unclear who will represent them when the men appear before a federal magistrate in Miami on Thursday.

Berman credited the Drug Enforcement Agency with using confidential sources to convince Estrada and Gonzalez that they were dealing with members of a powerful Mexico-based drug cartel.</s>By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A presidential candidate in Guatemala has been arrested in Miami on drug charges. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman says Mario Amilcar Estrada Orellana promised to let a drug cartel use Guatemalan…

NEW YORK (AP) — A presidential candidate in Guatemala has been arrested in Miami on drug charges.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman says Mario Amilcar Estrada Orellana promised to let a drug cartel use Guatemalan ports and airports.

He says Estrada and a second defendant also conspired to try to arrange the assassinations of political rivals. Estrada was arrested Wednesday in Miami along with fellow defendant Juan Pablo Gonzalez Mayorga.

Both were charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and a related weapons offense.

It was unclear who will represent them when the men appear before a federal magistrate in Miami on Thursday.

Berman credited the Drug Enforcement Agency with using confidential sources to convince Estrada and Gonzalez that they were dealing with members of a powerful Mexico-based drug cartel.

Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>A Guatemalan presidential candidate was busted Wednesday by the DEA for conspiring to import “tons of cocaine” into the US for Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s infamous Sinaloa drug cartel — and allegedly attempting to arrange the assassinations of his political rivals, according to prosecutors.

Mario Estrada, 58, was charged in Manhattan federal court following a months-long investigation.

He and another individual, Juan Pablo Gonzalez Mayorga, were arrested Wednesday in Miami and are scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate on Thursday.

They are accused of conspiring to solicit cartel money “to finance a corrupt scheme to elect Estrada president of Guatemala,” according to prosecutors.

“In return, the two allegedly promised to assist the cartel in using Guatemalan ports and airports to export tons of cocaine into the US,” said Geoffrey Berman, attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a statement. “As further alleged, Estrada and Gonzalez attempted to arrange the assassinations of political rivals.”

The pair allegedly conspired to use and possess machine guns throughout their murderous election campaign.

“[Estrada and Gonzalez] directed [confidential sources] to hire hitmen to assassinate political rivals to ensure that Estrada was elected president of Guatemala,” the federal complaint says. “In particular, Estrada and Gonzalez identified specific targets by name and agreed to provide the hitmen with firearms, including AK-47s, to carry out the murders.”

Both men will face a maximum of life in prison, if convicted.

“Thanks to the DEA, Estrada stands no chance of election in Guatemala,” Berman said. “But he and Gonzalez face justice in the United States.”</s>OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics put pitcher Marco Estrada on the 10-day injured list because of a lumbar strain, one day after a second consecutive shaky outing.

Estrada gave up seven runs and walked three in 3 1/3 innings in Tuesday night's loss to the Houston Astros. It was the second straight start that Estrada failed to make it past the fourth.

"He's had some back and hip things kind of in concert giving him a little trouble right now," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He's had that in the past. We knew that 30-plus starts were probably not going to be realistic, and from time to time that this is something we were going to have to do with him. We knew all that going in."

Estrada signed a $4 million, one-year contract with Oakland in the offseason and has been second in Melvin's rotation. The A's are winless in his five starts.

Right-hander Chris Bassitt was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas and is expected to take Estrada's place in the rotation.</s>OAKLAND — Marco Estrada had a rough start on Tuesday against the Houston Astros, allowing seven runs in 3 1/3 innings, but it turns out there was a reason: He was pitching hurt.

The Oakland Athletics placed the starter on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, with a lumbar strain in his back.

“It’s shown,” said Estrada of his injury. “The velo is down, I’m not locating. I don’t hit guys, I don’t walk guys. I couldn’t pitch yesterday.”

On Tuesday, the right-hander faced 19 Astros hitters and issued three walks and a hit batsman, while also serving up two home runs. It was his second straight poor outing, and this time his fastball never even reached 89 mph. His heater is averaging under 88 mph this season, a full mile-per-hour below his previous career-low.

“When I’m healthy, I know I can still pitch and pitch well for this team and help them win,” said Estrada. “But right now, obviously, I’m not helping them.”

Back problems are nothing new for Estrada, and he said this one has bothered him since the team left on its recently completed road trip. He’s hopeful that he’ll only need to miss one start, though, if all goes well.

“I’ve had issues before but normally they don’t last very long,” he said.

“We knew coming in that these were issues he’s had in the past,” said Melvin. “We knew when this pops up that it’s probably prudent to get him a break.”

To replace Estrada on the roster, pitcher Chris Bassitt was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. Bassitt opened the season on the IL as well, after being hit in the leg with a liner last month in Japan, but he was activated on Tuesday and briefly optioned to the minors at that time. The right-hander might start in place of Estrada on the next turn through the rotation, or he might come out of the bullpen if needed. Bassitt pitched in 11 games for the A’s last season, including seven starts, and posted a strong 3.02 ERA.

In the meantime, the A’s face the Astros again on Wednesday. Frankie Montas will start for Oakland, bringing with him a 3.18 ERA over his first three outings of the year. He faced the Astros in Houston two weeks ago, and threw five solid innings while allowing just two runs to the defending AL West division champions. He’ll face lefty Wade Miley, who faced the A’s in that same Houston series and carried a shutout into the sixth inning.
Presidential candidate Mario Estrada [es] is captured in the United States because of his alleged connections with the international drug trafficking Sinaloa Cartel. The United States Department of Justice says in a statement that Estrada had requested the murder of political rivals to win the presidency in exchange for granting control of airports and ports in the country to these groups. The presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 16.