Former Ocós Mayor Carlos Preciado Navarijo Receives Ten-Year Prison Sentence for Drug Trafficking in the United States

Carlos Preciado Navarijoformer mayor of the municipality of Ocós, San Marcos, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the United Statesafter plead guilty to cocaine trafficking charges before the Eastern District Court of Texas.

The resolution, which was issued on September 3, describes that Preciado Navarijo accepted the accusations of drug trafficking after he reached an agreement in August 2023 to admit his guilt.

The court, in charge of the By Amos L. Mazzantimposed the prison sentence for the main charge of the accusation against Preciado Navarijo, related to the conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 450 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, with the intent to illegally import it into the United States.

All of the points outlined in the court documents are linked to the same charge of conspiracy to traffic drugs.

The judge also recommended that the defendant receive appropriate mental health treatment during his time in prison. He was not fined, but was given a special evaluation fee of $100.

After serving his sentence, The accused will be on supervised release for a period of 5 years and will be denied all federal benefits during that same time.

The file also indicates that the court confirmed that the defendant reviewed the sentence and his defense did not raise any objections.

According to the judgment, the case agreements were:

• a. The parties have agreed on a sentence of 120 months’ imprisonment.
• b. The defendant shall not be fined; the defendant shall pay the mandatory special fee of US$100 at or before the sentencing hearing; and
• c. The accused will receive a term of 5 years of supervised release.

Preciado Navarijo was acting mayor of Ocós, San Marcos, when he was arrested in Panama on January 19, 2021, and later extradited at the request of the United States.

Preciado had been elected for the 2020-2024 period by the La Plantía civic committee.

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The Panamanian National Police confirmed his arrest for drug-related crimes and conspiracy, when he arrived in that territory from a transit flight from Guatemala bound for Costa Rica.

The former mayor adhered to the simplified extradition procedure.

Preciado Navarijo arrived in Panamanian territory from Guatemala on a transit flight bound for the Republic of Costa Rica, when he was detected by the authorities and subsequently arrested. #SinTregua pic.twitter.com/Ubc7V5Y8qk

— National Police (@ProtegeryServir) January 21, 2021

Years later, in 2023, from prison he tried to run with the same civic committee La Plantía to be mayor of Ocós again. However, the Citizen Registry of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) declared the registration of the slate inadmissible, ruling out his participation in the elections.

Political power

The Preciado Navarijo family has maintained a strong political influence in the municipality of Ocós, San Marcos, since 2004, when Edilma Navarijo of Leonthe mother of the accused, was elected mayor, a position she held until 2016.

Then, when the territory was divided and the municipality of La Blanca was created, she also managed to be elected as mayor, first with the Union of National Change (UCN)and then in 2023 he was re-elected with the Nosotros party, led by Rudy Guzmán, Sandra Torres’ son-in-law, for the period 2024-2028.

Read also: Drug trafficking and politics: the powerful reasons why officials get involved in organized crime

The daughter of Edilma Navarijo from Leon, and sister of Carlos, Vivian Preciado Navarejojoined politics in 2015.

Vivian Preciado Navarijo was elected that year as a deputy for San Marcos with the UCN, whose founder, Mario Estradawas sentenced in the United States to 15 years for drug trafficking in 2020.

According to InSight CrimeVivian Preciado Navarijo was arrested in 2010 and later released after being accused of having set up a “smoke screen” to protect Víctor Hugo Soto Diéguez, a former agent of the Criminal Investigation Department (DINC).

Soto Diéguez had been convicted for his involvement in extrajudicial executions during a raid on La Granja Pavón prison in 2006.

The indictment suggested that Vivian used her influence and resources to divert the attention of authorities and help Soto Dieguez evade justice.

Like her mother, Vivian Preciado Navarijo was re-elected for a second term as a representative to the Congress of the Republic representing San Marcos, also with the Nosotros party, although she was declared independent once she took her seat.

Read also: Independent deputies want to become a partya

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What criminal charges led to Carlos‌ Preciado Navarijo’s sentencing in the United⁣ States?

Carlos Preciado Navarijo: The Fall of a Political‌ Powerhouse

Carlos Preciado Navarijo, the former mayor of Ocós, San Marcos, has been⁢ sentenced to 10⁢ years in prison in the United States ⁣after pleading guilty to ⁢cocaine trafficking charges. This marks the end of an⁤ era for the Preciado‌ Navarijo family, who have maintained a strong political influence in the municipality of Ocós since 2004.

Preciado Navarijo’s ⁢political career began in 2020 when he was elected as⁣ the⁣ mayor of Ocós for the 2020-2024⁣ period by ⁢the La Plantía civic committee.⁢ However, his ⁤tenure ⁤was short-lived as he was ⁤arrested ‍in ‌Panama on January 19, 2021, and later⁤ extradited⁤ to the United States on drug-related charges. [[3]]

The U.S. court imposed a prison sentence of 120 months‌ for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 450 kilograms ⁣or more of a ⁤mixture or substance containing⁤ a detectable amount of ​cocaine, with the intent to illegally import it into the United‍ States. The judge ‍also recommended that Preciado Navarijo receive ⁢appropriate ​mental health ⁢treatment during his time in prison.⁣ [[2]]

The Preciado Navarijo ⁢family’s political influence in Ocós dates back to 2004 ‍when Edilma Navarijo of Leon, Carlos’s⁤ mother, was⁢ elected ‌mayor. She held the position until 2016 and later became the ‌mayor‍ of La Blanca‍ after the territory⁣ was divided. Edilma Navarijo was re-elected in 2023⁣ with the Nosotros‌ party, led by Rudy Guzmán,⁣ Sandra Torres’ son-in-law, for the period 2024-2028.

Vivian Preciado Navarijo, Carlos’s sister, also joined politics in​ 2015 and was elected ​as a deputy for San Marcos⁣ with the Union of⁢ National Change (UCN). However, ​her political career has ⁢not been without controversy. In 2010, she was arrested ⁤and later released after being accused of setting up a “smoke ​screen” to protect Víctor Hugo Soto Diéguez, ⁤a former agent of⁣ the Criminal Investigation Department (DINC),⁣ who ⁢was convicted ​of extrajudicial⁢ executions.

Despite the controversy surrounding the⁢ Preciado Navarijo family, their political influence in Ocós remains significant. However, Carlos’s ‍sentencing marks a ⁤significant blow to their political dynasty. As the⁣ family’s grip‍ on power begins ⁢to loosen

Here are some People Also Ask (PAA) questions related to the title “Carlos Preciado Navarijo: Former Mayor of Ocós, San Marcos Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in the United States for Cocaine Trafficking“:

Carlos Preciado Navarijo: Former Mayor of Ocós, San Marcos Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in the United States for Cocaine Trafficking

Carlos Preciado Navarijo, the former mayor of the municipality of Ocós, San Marcos, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the United States after pleading guilty to cocaine trafficking charges before the Eastern District Court of Texas. The resolution, issued on September 3, describes that Preciado Navarijo accepted the accusations of drug trafficking after reaching an agreement in August 2023 to admit his guilt.

Criminal Charges and Sentence

Preciado Navarijo was accused of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 450 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, with the intent to illegally import it into the United States. The judge, Amos L. Mazzant, imposed the prison sentence for the main charge of the accusation against Preciado Navarijo. All of the points outlined in the court documents are linked to the same charge of conspiracy to traffic drugs.

The judge also recommended that the defendant receive appropriate mental health treatment during his time in prison. He was not fined, but was given a special evaluation fee of $100. After serving his sentence, the accused will be on supervised release for a period of 5 years and will be denied all federal benefits during that same time.

Political Background

Preciado Navarijo was acting mayor of Ocós, San Marcos, when he was arrested in Panama on January 19, 2021, and later extradited at the request of the United States. He had been elected for the 2020-2024 period by the La Plantía civic committee. The Panamanian National Police confirmed his arrest for drug-related crimes and conspiracy, when he arrived in that territory from a transit flight from Guatemala bound for Costa Rica.

In 2023, from prison, he tried to run with the same civic committee La Plantía to be mayor of Ocós again. However, the Citizen Registry of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) declared the registration of the slate inadmissible, ruling out his participation in the elections [[3]].

Extradition and Arrest

Preciado Navarijo was arrested in Panama after an Interpol notice for drug trafficking [[1]]. He was extradited to the United States in late February, where he will face charges related to drug trafficking [[2]].

Carlos Preciado Navarijo, the former mayor of Ocós, San Marcos, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the United States for cocaine trafficking charges. His political career has been marred by controversy, and his latest attempt to run for office again was thwarted by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.