United States prosecutors have charged a former Mexico City judge with nine counts of being an accessory after the fact, alleging that he accepted $2 million to secure the release of a Canadian defendant wanted on serious federal charges.
Luis Benítez Alcántara was arrested in Colombia and the United States says it will seek his extradition. The second superseding indictment alleges that, while overseeing Andrew Clark’s extradition proceeding in Mexico, Benítez granted bond and ordered Clark released after intermediaries arranged the payment.
Clark had been arrested on US drug-trafficking, murder and attempted-murder charges. Prosecutors say approximately $2.75 million moved through intermediaries between November 2024 and February 2025, including an agreed $2 million for the judge. Clark was rearrested days after his release and transferred to the United States, where his case remains pending.
The charges against Benítez are allegations, and the indictment has not established guilt. If extradited and convicted, he could face up to 15 years on each count. The official case notice links to the superseding indictment.
