Legendary Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. is set to face trial for his alleged connections to a drug cartel and involvement in weapons trafficking, as announced by his lawyer, Rubén Fernando Benítez Alvarez. According to reports, a Mexican court has extended the investigation period by three months, with the claims against Chávez being dismissed by his lawyer as mere “speculation” and “urban legends” following a hearing in Hermosillo.
In the event of a conviction, Chávez, who is currently 39, may face a prison term of between four to eight years. Having lived in the United States for several years, Chávez was arrested in early July by federal agents near his Los Angeles home on charges of overstaying his visa and providing false information in his application for a green card.
His arrest came shortly after a boxing match against renowned American boxer Jake Paul in Los Angeles. Since 2019, Mexican prosecutors have been investigating Chávez due to a complaint from the US authorities against the Sinaloa Cartel, which involved organized crime, human trafficking, arms smuggling, and drug trafficking. The investigation included 13 individuals, including Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and various associates and accomplices of the criminal organization. Guzmán López was subsequently arrested in January 2023 and extradited to the United States eight months later.
At the request of the inquiry, the Federal Attorney General’s Office issued multiple arrest warrants, one of which was for Chávez. After his deportation from the United States on August 9, Chávez was handed over to agents of the Federal Attorney General’s Office in Sonora state and transferred to the Federal Social Reintegration Center in Hermosillo.
The ongoing high-profile case coincides with the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure Mexico into tackling organized crime. These efforts included the cancellation of visas for prominent Mexican artists and celebrities, and an increase in deportations. Throughout his career, Chávez has struggled with drug addiction and has been arrested multiple times. In 2012, he was found guilty of driving under the influence in Los Angeles and was sentenced to 13 days in jail. The boxer was also arrested last year for weapons possession, having two rifles in his possession. After posting $50,000 bail, he was released on the condition that he seek treatment for his addiction.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/legendary-boxer-julio-c233sar-ch225vez-jr-to-stand-trial-in-mexico-over-alleged-cartel-ties-13417445
