Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Mexico’s FGR Arrests Ex-Chihuahua Governor César Duarte on Federal Money-Laundering Charge

U.S. approval on Dec. 4 cleared prosecutors to pursue counts outside his extradition scope, paving the way for a new federal case alongside pending state proceedings.

Overview

  • Federal agents detained Duarte around 2 p.m. on Dec. 8 as he left his home in Chihuahua City, executing a May 16, 2024 arrest warrant issued in Almoloya de Juárez.
  • He was moved into federal custody and entered the Altiplano maximum-security prison at 11:21 p.m., with a court appearance expected on Dec. 9.
  • Prosecutors say the probe tracks triangulation of public funds through shell companies, simulated contracts and bank transfers within Mexico’s financial system.
  • The FGR requested U.S. consent on Oct. 4, 2024 to pursue charges beyond his extradition terms, which was granted on Dec. 4, 2025.
  • Duarte was arrested in Miami in 2020 and extradited in 2022 over state charges of embezzlement and criminal association, which continue under Chihuahua authorities; he remains presumed innocent.