Garcia Luna Sentenced for Bribes in El Chapo's Cartel

Former Mexican top law enforcement official Genaro Garcia Luna has been sentenced to over 38 years in a U.S. prison for taking bribes from the Sinaloa cartel, led by Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, to protect its drug trafficking operations. Judge Brian Cogan, who presided over the case in Brooklyn, emphasized Garcia Luna's 'double life' and described his career as a 'smoke screen' to facilitate his criminal activities, despite his role in the war on drugs. Prosecutors highlighted that Garcia Luna was the cartel's 'most valuable asset', aiding them with intelligence and operational support, which contributed significantly to the violence and drug epidemic affecting both Mexico and the U.S. Garcia Luna's defense argued for a reduced sentence, citing his service and time already spent in detention, but was ultimately unsuccessful. The case marks a significant fall from grace for Garcia Luna, who was once praised as a key ally in fighting drug cartels. This sentencing follows the conviction of El Chapo, who is serving a life sentence for similar charges.