Ex-Zetas Member’s 50-Year Sentence Overturned Over Illegal Arrest

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Federal magistrates from the Third Collegiate Court of Quintana Roo have annulled a 50-year prison sentence against Hernán Argelio Acosta Dorantes, alias "La Parca," a former member of the Los Zetas cartel. The ruling, issued on Tuesday, determined that Acosta Dorantes was a victim of torture and illegal detention during his arrest in 2011.

Court Orders New Sentencing, Possible Release

The magistrates concluded that Acosta Dorantes, convicted of kidnapping, was subjected to violations of due process by the now-defunct Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office. He was detained on June 29, 2011, but was not presented to the Public Prosecutor’s Office until nearly 24 hours later, after being transferred to Mexico City for arraignment.

The court classified the detention as unconstitutional and granted a writ of amnesty (amparo) in case 305/2024. The ruling mandates the Collegiate Appeals Court in Cancún to issue a new sentence in accordance with the law. If no additional incriminating evidence is presented, Acosta Dorantes must be released immediately.

"Should no other incriminating evidence be found, the court must decree the immediate release of the accused solely concerning this criminal case (…) without prejudice to his continued detention in relation to any other pending criminal proceedings," the sentence states.

Violent Arrest and Criminal Allegations

According to case records, Acosta Dorantes was arrested under circumstances of extreme violence. He and others, including an individual known as "El Chilango," were allegedly involved in extorting Cancún bars as part of Los Zetas. They were caught in the act after kidnapping a man from The City bar in 2011.

Neighbors reported armed men at a residence in northern Cancún, leading to a raid by federal and state authorities. During the operation, human remains were discovered on the property.

"The report indicates that the accused spontaneously stated that a body was buried on the premises and that he had disposed of additional remains with the help of another individual during a trip to Mérida. Authorities later exhumed the body from the backyard," the court documents reveal.

Despite these findings, the magistrates ruled that Acosta Dorantes’ fundamental rights were violated.

Current Status and Next Steps

Acosta Dorantes is currently incarcerated at Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 5 "Oriente" in Villa Aldama, Veracruz. The recent ruling opens the possibility for his release unless new evidence is presented in the retrial.

The case has drawn attention to legal procedures in high-profile organized crime prosecutions, highlighting the balance between justice and constitutional protections.