Federal Judge Weighs Treason Indictment Against Ex-Chihuahua Prosecutor

A federal judge will decide Saturday whether to allow a treason indictment against César Jáuregui, the former attorney general of Chihuahua.

The case stems from an April 19 operation to dismantle a drug lab in the municipality of Morelos. A vehicle in the return convoy left the road and crashed into a ravine, killing four people. The Mexican victims were Pedro Román Oseguera Cervantes, the first commander of the state investigation agency, and officer Manuel Genaro Méndez Montes. Two Americans also died in the crash.

Jáuregui announced the lab had been destroyed at the time. He described the Americans as instructor officers conducting training under binational anti-drug cooperation. He noted that the labs were among the largest sites for chemical drug production in the country. No suspects were arrested because they fled the scene.

The deaths triggered a dispute over foreign involvement in Mexican law enforcement. Jáuregui resigned to allow an inquiry. He was arrested on October 17 on state charges of illegal exercise of public office. A judge ruled Thursday that those state charges can proceed to trial. Federal prosecutors later added a treason charge.

Federal officials argue that Jáuregui endangered national security by approving U.S. participation in a field operation. That decision is reserved for the federal government. The treason charge carries a sentence of five to 40 years. Defense attorney Héctor Villasana said prosecutors requested an exemplary punishment during a closed hearing. Villasana stated the goal was to prevent a situation similar to the U.S. removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Legal experts question the viability of the treason charge. Samuel González, a former chief prosecutor for organized crime, said Jáuregui may have failed in his duties by not informing federal authorities or by allowing foreign agents to carry weapons. González described treason as a wartime crime and suggested these actions would not meet that standard. Carlos Pérez Ricart of CIDE university called the case a political decision ahead of the 2027 midterm elections. He warned the case sends a very bad signal to Washington.

Accounts of the Americans' roles have differed. U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson called them embassy personnel. Multiple people familiar with the matter told CBS News they were CIA agents. The CIA declined to comment. Mexico's security ministry said one American entered as a visitor and the other with a diplomatic passport. The ministry stated neither had formal accreditation for operational activities. Sheinbaum said none had permission to operate in Mexico. Two other U.S. agents in a separate vehicle were later expelled.

The case highlights tensions over U.S. activity in Mexico. Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador limited such activities. President Claudia Sheinbaum amended the Constitution to bar field operations without express Mexican authorization. Pérez Ricart noted that such actions have often happened without federal knowledge. He argued that without clear rules, these operations can lead to abuses.

The U.S. State Department said it is aware of the case and watching it. The department did not link the case to the CIA deaths. The federal judge's decision on Saturday will determine if Jáuregui faces the maximum 40-year sentence or if the case proceeds on lesser state charges.