Three Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for 2022 Cancún Homicide

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A judge sentenced three people to 25 years in prison for the aggravated homicide of a contractor in Cancún in December 2022.

Celia del Carmen Alonso Mendoza, José Ricardo Pérez García — known as “El Grande” — and Manases de la Cruz Castro — known as “El Negro” — were found guilty during an oral trial. The victim’s identity remains under seal.

Prosecutors presented evidence showing that on Dec. 23, 2022, the victim, who worked as a contractor on a construction site near the Cancún International Airport, was approached by the three defendants and another individual identified only by the alias “24.”

According to the investigation, the contractor was deceived and threatened into accompanying the group to the irregular settlement of Chiapaneca. There, they took him to a dirt road and began assaulting him, accusing him of owing money related to cash and illegal substances.

After beating the victim, the group moved him to a second isolated location, where they shot and killed him. They then fled in the victim’s vehicle.

Investigators used field work, records, and intelligence to reconstruct the sequence of events, identify the suspects, and arrest them at different times.

In addition to the 25-year prison sentence for each defendant, the judge imposed an individual fine of 144,330 pesos and ordered the three to jointly pay 874,722 pesos in restitution for material damages.