Mexican court approves extradition of businessman accused of fraud in the US

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Unanimously, the First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) denied the injunction promoted by the businessman Fernando Villarreal Cantú, who sought to avoid his extradition to the United States, where he is accused of defrauding the Department of Agriculture for 78 million US dollars.

Without any discussion, the five ministers of the room approved the project of their colleague Margarita Ríos Farjat, rejecting the injunction, and now the file is ordered to return to the court of origin, to resolve the last pending legality issues and proceed with extradition.

Fernando Villarreal Cantú (Photo: valortamaulipeco.blogspot.com)

Villarreal Cantú is required by a Federal District Court of the south of Texas for the crimes of criminal association to commit bank, postal, and telecommunications fraud; in addition to making false statements and bribing officials of a financial institution; as well as money laundering.

According to the investigation by the US authorities, the defendant had committed these crimes through operations of the Logistik Business Group, which he presided over, to obtain loans from the Department of Agriculture’s Credit Guarantee Delivery Program.

Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación: SCJN

In his defense, Villarreal Cantú argued alleged procedural violations, which the Mexican Supreme Court (Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación: SCJN) rejected, noting that the right to a hearing claimed by the complainant must be exercised during his trial since the extradition process does not prejudge his guilt or innocence.

Source: La Jornada

Mexico Daily Post