Mexico City, Mexico — The U.S. Department of Justice has formally linked Alexandro Rovirosa, CEO of Roma Energy Holdings, to members of Mexican drug cartels, specifically Los Zetas, according to documents obtained from Guacamaya Leaks. The allegations surfaced alongside charges of bribery involving Pemex officials.
Accusations of Cartel Ties
A leaked email attributed to Nemesio Oseguera, alias “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), offered a $10 million reward for information exposing Rovirosa’s alleged ties to Marcos Manzanilla Fojaco. Both men are identified as owners of Roma Energy México and Tubular Technology, companies specializing in oil exploration that reportedly received over 150 million pesos during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration.
The email stated: “Ten million dollars will be awarded to anyone who provides information on the true owners of Tubular Technology, a company linked to contracts CNH-R02-L03-VC01-2018 and CNH-R01-L03-A16-2015. The real owners of Roma Energy México and VLOQUE, SAPI de CV, are Marco Manzanilla Fojaco and Alejandro Rovirosa Martínez. Their wealth, estimated at 2 to 3 billion pesos, stems from extortion, kidnappings, and homicides as operatives for Los Zetas.”
Manzanilla was arrested on July 7, 2017, with weapons, drugs, and nearly $2 million in cash, leading to investigation file PGR-FED-TAB-VHSA-0000666-2017. The leak claims he was released due to intervention by then-Tabasco Governor Arturo Núñez and allegedly paid monthly bribes of 100,000 to 500,000 pesos to mid-level officials in the Navy, Army, and Federal Police, including SEIDO personnel.
U.S. Criminal Charges
The U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal charges against Rovirosa and Mario Alberto Ávila Lizárraga, a former PAN candidate for Campeche governor, for bribing three Pemex officials with $150,000 in cash, Louis Vuitton bags, and Hublot watches between 2019 and 2021. The bribes allegedly secured $2.5 million in contracts.
Matthew Galeotti, Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General, stated: “The defendants—foreign residents in the U.S.—are accused of bribing Mexican officials to manipulate the bidding process and secure lucrative contracts worth millions.” The case falls under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which could impose fines of up to $25 million on Pemex.
The allegations and charges highlight deepening scrutiny of corruption and cartel influence in Mexico’s energy sector.
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