Daniel Arizmendi López 50-year prison sentence, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico): The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) obtained a sentence of 50 years in prison against Daniel Arizmendi López, known as “El Mochaorejas,” who is identified as the leader of the criminal organization “Los Arizmendi,” which was dedicated to kidnapping since 1998 in the State of Mexico and the former Federal District.
The conviction was handed down after the Federal Public Ministry presented additional evidence and the proceedings were repeated as ordered by federal justice, in a legal process that lasted more than two decades. The ruling held Arizmendi López responsible for organized crime, operations with funds of illicit origin, and possession of weapons for exclusive army use.
In addition to the 50-year prison term, the authority imposed a fine of 916,312.50 pesos. According to FGR investigations, the gang he led operated mainly in the State of Mexico and the capital, where it carried out kidnappings and other illicit activities since at least 1998.
The ruling stemmed from evidence presented by the Public Ministry assigned to the Specialized Regional Control Prosecutor’s Office (FECOR) in the State of Mexico, after the defense filed several amparo lawsuits that changed the course of the criminal case. The case dates back to June 1998, when the Federal Public Ministry initiated criminal action without a detainee against Arizmendi López, Daniel “V,” Dulce “N” and other accomplices, leading to arrest warrants.
On June 30 of that year, Daniel “N” was detained and transferred to the Reclusorio Preventivo Varonil Sur in Mexico City. On August 21, 1998, Daniel “V” and Dulce “N” were captured and placed at the disposal of the courts at Federal Center for Social Readaptation No. 1 in Almoloya de Juárez, State of Mexico.
On August 21, 2003, the court issued a first guilty verdict against the three defendants. However, the defense filed amparo lawsuits and obtained favorable rulings ordering that the proceedings be repeated.
This required returning to earlier stages of the litigation to correct procedural actions, extending the trial for more than two decades.
Finally, after complementary evidence was presented by the FECOR in the State of Mexico, the judicial authority notified the final sentence against the three accused, ratifying the 50-year prison term for Arizmendi López.
