Nicaraguan Nightclub Owner’s Release Reveals Wide-Reaching White Collar Crime Network
In a quiet release from prison on May 19, 2020, Hugo Mauricio Jaén Figueroa gave the world a glimpse into a long-hidden white collar crime network in Nicaragua. Figueroa, a Nicaraguan nightclub owner, was one of 23 individuals convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering in the highest-profile drug case in Nicaragua over the last two decades.
The Murder of Argentine Folk Singer Facundo Cabral
The murder of Argentine folk singer Facundo Cabral and his business partner Henry Fariñas in Guatemala in 2011 thrust Figueroa, then 40 years old, into the public eye. This shocking event launched an investigation that uncovered a criminal network that extended from Colombia to Mexico, with Nicaraguan police, a judge, and a prominent lawyer all connected to Nicaragua’s most powerful political family.
Investigation Uncovers Extent of Criminal Network
The murders took place on Bulevar Liberación on July 9, 2011, as Fariñas and Cabral were driving to the airport. Gunmen blocked their car and opened fire, killing Cabral and seriously injuring Fariñas. The killing sent shockwaves through Guatemala and Nicaragua.
At the time of the murder, Fariñas was a businessman living in Guatemala. He had made a living as a piano tuner and later worked with Elite nightclub, a chain of clubs operating across Central America. The investigation revealed that Figueroa was the head of a vast criminal organization:
- False Nicaraguan identification documents
- Money laundering
- Drug transportation
Key Players in Figueroa’s Criminal Network
Alejandro Jiménez: Palidejo
Alejandro Jiménez, a Costa Rican, played a vital role in Figueroa’s criminal network. He had acquired a false Nicaraguan ID and ran the operations from a house near Figueroa’s in the Nicaraguan capital. Jiménez’s group also appeared to have partnerships with Mexican and Honduran criminal organizations, moving drugs through sites in Costa Rica.
Los Charros: An Offshoot of the Mexican Criminal Organization, the Familia Michoacana
Figueroa himself had a two-fold role in the network: he was both a transporter and a money launderer for the organization. His network included a group called “Los Charros,” or “The Cowboys,” an offshoot of the Mexican criminal organization, the Familia Michoacana.
Power Struggle Leads to Murder
The arrests of key members of the Charros network in May 2011 led to a power struggle within the organization. Figueroa attempted to seize a cocaine shipment for himself rather than handing it over to the Charros, setting in motion the events that ultimately led to Cabral’s murder.
Figueroa’s Powerful Allies
Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Figueroa had powerful allies. He had ties to police and judicial authorities, including a senior police commander named Carlos Palacios Linarte. Palacios, a career officer who had risen to the top under then-Police Chief Aminta Granera, had been linked to suspicious characters in the past. In 2006, the police removed the Managua Police Chief, Carlos Bendaña, after allegations he took bribes from business owners, including a nightclub propagator and suspected drug trafficker named Jerónimo Polanco. Several police officials, including Palacios, had personal connections to Polanco and were suspected of involvement in his murder.
Ongoing Investigation
Figueroa’s links to the elites and powerful figures within Nicaraguan society are still under investigation. His trial, which began in April 2012, was an indication of the far-reaching consequences of his criminal activities and the depth of the corruption within Nicaraguan society. The ongoing investigation continues to shed light on the nexus of organized crime and political power in Nicaragua, raising questions about the true extent of impunity and corruption in the country.