Judge denies relief against Gómez Santelices account freezes
Original reporting: ZETA Tijuana
What happened
ZETA Tijuana reports that two businessmen challenged UIF account freezes following U.S. Treasury allegations of links to Los Mayos. The judge denied immediate suspension; the report also details more than 139 million pesos in public contracts since 2021.
Reporting and context
A federal judge in Tijuana denied immediate relief sought by two businessmen challenging bank-account freezes imposed by Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit, according to ZETA Tijuana. Marco Antonio Moreno Gómez Santelices and Carlos Villela Gómez Santelices filed amparo petitions after U.S. Treasury authorities alleged links to Los Mayos, a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
The Twelfth District Court in Baja California denied the automatic suspension sought in both cases. The ruling concerns requests to halt the freezes while the constitutional challenges proceed. The financial restrictions followed an order dated September 28, 2026, placing Moreno Gómez Santelices on Mexico’s blocked-persons list.
His challenge covers personal accounts and accounts belonging to Inteliproof Efficient, Conciertos y Espectáculos Inhouse and Corevial Constructora. The report also describes a separate petition seeking relief for Baja Fixer Group, whose bank funds were frozen.
ZETA Tijuana reported that U.S. Treasury allegations describe Moreno Gómez Santelices as leading a network of security, real-estate and entertainment businesses that allegedly laundered money for the faction aligned with Ismael Zambada Sicairos, known as Mayito Flaco. The report cites Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control as alleging financial, material and technological support for organized crime.
The network’s public contracts add a separate dimension to the case. According to ZETA Tijuana, businesses including Inteliproof Efficient and Private Equity Baja received 42 contracts worth more than 139 million pesos from Baja California authorities beginning in 2021. Inteliproof Efficient accounted for 40 contracts covering equipment and services including tactical gear, facial-recognition software, uniforms, patrol vehicles and traffic signals. The state government ordered a review of contract files for referral to the Anti-Corruption and Good Government Secretariat.
The cases follow a similar challenge by businessman and politician Carlos Alberto Torres Torres, former husband of Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda. He filed in Mexicali on October 16 to contest his inclusion on the blocked-persons list and the freezing of Banorte accounts. That court denied provisional suspension on October 22, citing protections for the national financial system.
Original report: ZETA Tijuana.