Culiacán Mayor Requests Temporary Leave Amid US Accusations

Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil, the mayor of Culiacán, Sinaloa, has requested a temporary leave of absence from his position following accusations of ties to organized crime issued by the United States government.

The request for leave, which is for a period exceeding 10 days, follows an indictment released by the U.S. Department of Justice on April 29, 2026. The accusations link Gámez Mendívil to narcotics trafficking and weapons offenses, specifically alleging connections to the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.

The U.S. Legal action is not limited to the mayor; the Department of Justice also named the Governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya and seven other individuals in the same set of accusations.

Administrative Transition in Culiacán

Following the approval of the leave by the municipal government, Ana Miriam Ramos has been designated to substitute Gámez Mendívil as the head of the Culiacán administration during his absence.

The transition comes amid a period of significant legal and political pressure on the state’s leadership. Gámez Mendívil, a member of the Morena party, has assumed the mayoralty since October 31, 2024, as part of the 2024-2027 administration.

Denial of Allegations

Despite the legal proceedings in the United States, Gámez Mendívil has categorically denied the claims. In statements following the announcement of the indictment, the mayor asserted that the accusations have no foundation.

The mayor’s office maintains that the allegations are baseless, though the timing of his temporary leave coincides with the escalation of the U.S. Justice Department’s case. Reports indicate that Gámez Mendívil missed a scheduled event for union workers on April 29, 2026, the same day the accusations were made public.

The indictment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York focuses on alleged links to narcotics trafficking and violence within Culiacán, marking a high-profile escalation in U.S. Efforts to target leadership within the Sinaloa Cartel’s network.