Judge to Decide Saturday if Former Chihuahua Prosecutor Faces Treason Trial

César Jáuregui, the former attorney general of Chihuahua, faces a federal decision on Saturday that could send him to trial on treason charges. The accusation stems from a joint operation with U.S. agents in April that ended in a fatal crash. If the judge accepts the indictment, Jáuregui could face a prison sentence of between five and 40 years.

The legal process began after the death of two American officers and two Mexican officials. On April 19, the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office announced the dismantling of a drug lab in the municipality of Morelos. On the return trip, a vehicle in the convoy left the road and fell into a ravine. The Mexican victims were Pedro Román Oseguera Cervantes, the first commander of the state investigation agency, and officer Manuel Genaro Méndez Montes.

At the time of the accident, Jáuregui described the Americans as instructor officers engaged in training tasks under binational anti-drug cooperation. He noted that the targeted labs were one of the largest sites in the country for chemical drug production. The operation concluded without arrests because the suspects fled. The deaths prompted questions about U.S. activity on Mexican soil, particularly regarding President Claudia Sheinbaum's focus on national sovereignty.

Jáuregui resigned to allow for an inquiry. He was arrested on October 17 on state charges of illegal exercise of public office. A judge ruled on Thursday that those state charges can proceed to trial. Federal officials subsequently added a treason charge. A federal judge is scheduled to rule on Saturday whether to allow that specific indictment.

Federal prosecutors argue that Jáuregui endangered national security by approving the participation of U.S. agents in a field operation. They contend that this decision was reserved for the federal government. Defense attorney Héctor Villasana stated that prosecutors told a closed hearing they wanted an exemplary punishment. Villasana said the goal was to prevent a situation similar to the U.S. removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S. State Department said it is aware of and watching the case. The department did not link the case directly to the CIA deaths. Accounts of the Americans' roles have varied. U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson called them embassy personnel. Multiple people familiar with the matter told CBS News they were CIA agents. The CIA declined to comment. Mexico's security ministry said one American entered as a visitor and the other with a diplomatic passport. Neither had formal accreditation for operational activities.

Two other U.S. agents traveling in a separate vehicle were later expelled. Sheinbaum said none had permission to operate in Mexico. Legal experts doubt the treason charge will hold. Samuel González, a former chief prosecutor for organized crime, said Jáuregui may have failed in his obligations by not informing federal authorities. González described treason as a wartime crime and said the actions do not amount to that.

Carlos Pérez Ricart of CIDE university said the case would have a large public impact even if dismissed. He called it a political decision ahead of the 2027 midterm elections. Pérez Ricart warned the case sends a very bad signal to Washington. Sheinbaum amended the Constitution to bar field operations without express Mexican authorization. Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had previously limited such activities.