Mario Villanueva
Encyclopedia
Mario Ernesto Villanueva Madrid, aka "El Chueco",
(born 2 July 1948) is a Mexican
politician who built an important political career within the ranks of Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI). From 1993 to 1999 he served as the fourth governor
of the state of Quintana Roo
.
Accused of drug trafficking at the end of his gubernatorial period, he did not arrive at the ceremony at which he was to hand the office over to his elected successor, Joaquín Hendricks Díaz
, and remained a fugitive from justice for two years. He served a six-year prison sentence and was extradited to the United States on 8 May 2010.
, Quintana Roo
, Villanueva studied agronomy at the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
. He was elected presidente municipal (mayor) of Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo
, in 1990 (the municipality
that includes Cancún
) but resigned that position the year later to fight (and win) a seat representing Quintana Roo in the federal Senate
. He resigned as senator to run for governor of the state, to which he was elected in 1993.
tourist area, located to the south of Cancún. In 1993 he created the new municipality of Solidaridad
in that region, with its municipal seat in Playa del Carmen
.
. Fearing that he would be arrested at the end of his governorship, when his immunity (fuero
) expired, he disappeared from public view two weeks before the hand-over date.
He was arrested over two years later, on 24 May 2001, in a chance vehicle inspection near Cancún.
He was convicted of money-laundering offences (but cleared of drug-trafficking and organized crime charges) and spent six years in the Altiplano High-Security Prison
in Almoloya de Juárez, Estado de México. He was released on 21 June 2007 but was immediately taken back into custody to face proceedings under an extradition
request
filed by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
on charges including conspiracy to traffick and transport cocaine.
After a lengthy process that included the lodging of amparo
constitutional relief remedies, the extradition request was granted by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs on 7 November 2007.
On 4 June 2008, while in custody awaiting extradition to the United States, a federal judge found him guilty of the original drug trafficking charges and extended his original six-year sentence to 36 years and 9 months in prison.
On 8 May 2010 Villanueva was extradited to the United States. He was arraigned in a New York court and pled not guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
(born 2 July 1948) is a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
politician who built an important political career within the ranks of Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI). From 1993 to 1999 he served as the fourth governor
Governor of Quintana Roo
Governors of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo since statehood in 1975:Governors of the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo* Jesús Martínez Ross , 5 April 1975 – 4 April 1981* Pedro Joaquín Coldwell , 5 April 1981 – 4 April 1987...
of the state of Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
.
Accused of drug trafficking at the end of his gubernatorial period, he did not arrive at the ceremony at which he was to hand the office over to his elected successor, Joaquín Hendricks Díaz
Joaquín Hendricks Díaz
Joaquín Ernesto Hendricks Díaz is a Mexican politician belonging to the Partido Revolucionario Institucional ....
, and remained a fugitive from justice for two years. He served a six-year prison sentence and was extradited to the United States on 8 May 2010.
Professional and political career
Born in ChetumalChetumal
Chetumal is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco...
, Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
, Villanueva studied agronomy at the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
The Autonomous University of Chihuahua is a Mexican public university based in the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, but with several campuses across the state.-References:...
. He was elected presidente municipal (mayor) of Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo
Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo
Benito Juárez is one of the ten municipalities of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Most of its population reside in the municipal seat, Cancún. It is named after the 19th century president and statesman Benito Juárez.- Location :...
, in 1990 (the municipality
Municipalities of Mexico
Municipalities are the second-level administrative division in Mexico . There are 2,438 municipalities in Mexico, making the average municipality population 45,616...
that includes Cancún
Cancún
Cancún is a city of international tourism development certified by the UNWTO . Located on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo in southern Mexico, more than 1,700 km from Mexico City, the Project began operations in 1974 as Integrally Planned Center, a pioneer of FONATUR Cancún is a city of...
) but resigned that position the year later to fight (and win) a seat representing Quintana Roo in the federal Senate
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
. He resigned as senator to run for governor of the state, to which he was elected in 1993.
Governor of Quintana Roo
During his time as governor he promoted the development of the Riviera MayaRiviera Maya
Riviera Maya, also known as the Mayan Riviera, is a tourism district following the coastal Highway 307 which parallels the Caribbean coastline of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located on the eastern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula...
tourist area, located to the south of Cancún. In 1993 he created the new municipality of Solidaridad
Solidaridad, Quintana Roo
Solidaridad is one of the ten municipalities that make up the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is also one of the youngest municipalities in the country and was formed on July 28 of 1993 by decree of the State Congress during the administration of Mario Villanueva Madrid...
in that region, with its municipal seat in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a balneario resort city just south of Cancún on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, in the northeast of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The city is the seat of the Solidaridad municipality. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 149,923 people and it is rapidly growing...
.
Criminal allegations
Criminal charges accusing Villanueva of involvement in cocaine shipments passing through his state were filed while he was still serving as governor. Federal Assistant Attorney General Mariano Herrán interviewed him at the governor's mansion in ChetumalChetumal
Chetumal is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco...
. Fearing that he would be arrested at the end of his governorship, when his immunity (fuero
Fuero
Fuero , Furs , Foro and Foru is a Spanish legal term and concept.The word comes from Latin forum, an open space used as market, tribunal and meeting place...
) expired, he disappeared from public view two weeks before the hand-over date.
He was arrested over two years later, on 24 May 2001, in a chance vehicle inspection near Cancún.
He was convicted of money-laundering offences (but cleared of drug-trafficking and organized crime charges) and spent six years in the Altiplano High-Security Prison
Penal del Altiplano
The Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1 "Altiplano" is the maximum security federal prison The Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1 "Altiplano" is the maximum security federal prison The Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1 "Altiplano" is the maximum security federal prison...
in Almoloya de Juárez, Estado de México. He was released on 21 June 2007 but was immediately taken back into custody to face proceedings under an extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
request
filed by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
on charges including conspiracy to traffick and transport cocaine.
After a lengthy process that included the lodging of amparo
Amparo
Amparo is a Brazilian city of the state of São Paulo. The population in 2003 was 63,364. The area is 446 km². The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amparo....
constitutional relief remedies, the extradition request was granted by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs on 7 November 2007.
On 4 June 2008, while in custody awaiting extradition to the United States, a federal judge found him guilty of the original drug trafficking charges and extended his original six-year sentence to 36 years and 9 months in prison.
On 8 May 2010 Villanueva was extradited to the United States. He was arraigned in a New York court and pled not guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges.