The Public Prosecutor's Office of Mendoza requested 18 years in prison for former judge Walter Bento, found guilty of leading a criminal organization involved in money laundering and taking bribes. The sentence will be handed down this Friday.
Oral Federal Court No. 2 heard the penalty requests made by prosecutors Diego Velasco, María Gloria André, and Dante Vega, who argued that the corruption should be considered to have occurred within the provincial judiciary.
The officials requested that the former magistrate receive 18 years in prison for the crimes of criminal association, illicit enrichment, money laundering, and ideological falsification, and the payment of a fine of $752,326,756.04, which must be updated when the ruling becomes final.
Bento, who could be disqualified for life, gave his final statement and asked to be granted the benefit of house arrest, given that his son Facundo has a disability.
In the case of Marta Boiza, the former wife of the group's leader, six years of imprisonment, perpetual disqualification, and a fine of $230,128,506 were requested, while five years were sought for Nahuel Bento, one of the couple's descendants, for money laundering.
Meanwhile, the prosecutors requested that lawyer Luciano Ortega be sentenced to 12 years for being considered one of the organizers of the illegal structure, a fine of $127 million, and a 10-year disqualification from practicing his profession.
Another seven years and ten months were requested for lawyer Jaime Alba, another coordinator guilty of passive bribery and criminal association, while for Walter Bardinella Moroso (a member), a 6-year sentence was proposed, although the penalty would be unified to 15 years due to a prior conviction for drug trafficking.
The other lawyers who were part of the band are Martín Ríos (five years), Francisco “Chato” Álvarez (five years), and Matías Aramayo (four years and six months).
Additionally, the MPF requested five years in prison for Commissioner Gabriel Moschetti for being a member of a criminal association, in real concurrence with violation of rights, and this with ideal concurrence with breach of official duties, and 14 years of special disqualification from holding public office.
The Case nvestigators confirmed that since 2007, there was a criminal organization that granted freedom to detainees or defendants and reduced coercive measures in exchange for vehicles, bribes in dollars, and real estate. For this reason, impunity was guaranteed through the rulings that established lack of merit, dismissals, or modifications in the case headings.
On November 8, 2023, the Jury for the Trial of Magistrates removed Bento as head of Federal Court No. 1 in Mendoza for “poor performance of his functions,” while he remains detained in the Cacheuta prison with preventive detention.
