After nearly five years of litigation, the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) has secured a final judicial ruling to seize a residence valued at more than 51 million pesos from Emilio Lozoya Austin, the former director of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
The property, located in Colonia Lomas de Bezares in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City, now passes definitively to the state. This outcome follows a legal battle that began in 2021 when the FGR first filed the asset forfeiture (extinción de dominio) lawsuit.
Illicit Origins and Corruption Allegations
The seizure is rooted in findings that the residence was acquired using illicit resources. According to the FGR, evidence demonstrated that the funds were related to the “venta a sobrecosto” (overpriced sale) of the Agronitrogenados plant during Lozoya’s tenure as the head of Pemex.
The former Pemex director has faced several severe accusations, including:
- Fraud and illicit operations: Specifically regarding the purchase of the Agronitrogenados plant from businessman Alonso Ancira.
- Bribery: Lozoya was also imputed for receiving bribes from the Brazilian company Odebrecht in exchange for awarding overpriced construction contracts.
The Path to the Final Ruling
The legal victory for the FGR was not immediate. In the first instance, the Juzgado Segundo de Distrito en Materia de Extinción de Dominio ruled that the action was not proceeding. However, the FGR pursued an appeal through the Primer Tribunal Colegiado de Apelación en materia Civil.
The finality of the case was reached after the FGR filed the necessary resources to ensure the Primer Tribunal Colegiado en materia Civil, based in Mexico City, issued a definitive sentence. This ruling settled an “amparo” trial that had been promoted by Emilio Lozoya to fight the forfeiture of the Lomas de Bezares property.
Significance and Potential Next Steps
The definitive loss of this high-value asset marks a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to recover wealth tied to corruption and fraud. Because the court has now confirmed that the residence was purchased with illicit funds, this ruling may serve as a legal foundation for the FGR in similar asset recovery efforts.
Moving forward, the state could potentially seek to identify other assets linked to the Agronitrogenados or Odebrecht cases, and further legal proceedings regarding the remaining imputations against Lozoya may continue to unfold.
