HOW YARRINGTON BECAME GOVERNOR: RAKING IN DOUGH FROM THE DRUGLORDS

By Juan Montoya
Few people believed that the former governor of Tamaulipas could have amassed as much money as U.S. and Mexican authorities have charged in several indictments here and in investigation documents in Mexico.
But diverse media accounts published here and in Mexico lay out the paper trail of illegal enrichment, beginning with Tomas Yarrington's campaign for governor in 1998 and continuing during his six-year term in office.

Reforma, the groundbreaking news magazine and El Norte, Monterrey's leading newspaper, have traced the Yarrington trail through a series of reports detailing the use of front men to conceal his ill-gotten gains. At least thre confidentail informants have told U.S. and Mexican authorities they were present when Yarrington's representatives leaned on major narcotics traffickers, including leader of the Gulf Cartel, to shake them down to finance his run for public office. At one time, Yarrington not only was governor of the state of Tamaulipas, but also made a run for the PRI's nomination for the Mexican presidency.

A confidential informant named "Oscar" told the Mexican PGR in 2009 that he was present when Jesus Vega Sanchez, secretary and later president of the Tamaulipas PRI, met with Juan Jose Salinas "El Bimbo," in Reynosa to request funds for Yarrington's campaign. "El Bimbo" was the former commander of the state police and intermediary with Gulf Cartel boss Osiel Cardenas.

"Vega told 'El Bimbo' that it didn't matter where the money cames from or what kind of debts he had to repay, we are in dire need of the funds," recalls the informant. When "El Bimbo" inquired whether Yarrington was aware of the money's origin, the informant said that Vega answered that he shouldn't worry because "Tomas is willing and ready to comply with whatever is necessary. That's why sent me, his most trusted surrogate, to perform this duty."

"El Bimbo" had assumed his position as commander of the state police in Reynosa in February 1998. "Oscar" was his chief assistant.

He told the DEA and the Mexican counterparts the PGR that several criminal organizations bribed state and federal police to operate on the border.

For example, "Oscar" said eh also collected from Esteban Rodriguez Olivera, boss of the "Gueros" of Tecalitlan, Jaliso, one of the most important bosses of the Sinaloa Cartel. Rodriguez Olivera was later captured in 2008 and extradited to New York in 2008.

'El Bimbo," besides shaking down the Juarez Cartel, alos spoke with the Carrillo Fuentes gang of Coahuila, allies of drug lord Arturo Beltran Leyva. He also is said to have contacted the various state and federal police entities to procure funds for Yarrington.

Between them, "Oscar" said thay collected $1 million to give Yarrington in the third week of June 1998 for his run at state governor. "Oscar" and Juan Carlos Gonzalez Sancahez, cousin of drug capo Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, "El Coss," gave the portfolio with the money to Vega Sanchez while Yarington watched at the conclusion of a political event in Reynosa and both drove away in a red Suburban, the PGR report states.

"El Bimbo" also collected from police commanders in Nuevo Laredo, Miguel Aleman, Camargo, Diaz Ordaz, Matamoros, and Rio Bravo. 

In all, three portfolios containing $2 million were delivered to Vega Sanchez. Later, there were four other deliveries of between $400,000 to $800,000 each and three more others of between $300,00 to $500,000.

Initially, Osiel Guillen Cardenas, leader of the Gulf Cartel, did not participate. He was being held in custody by the military and held in house arrest in Mexico City. After his escape, he went to Reynosa, where "El Bimbo" met with him. 

Cardenas first gave "Oscar" $500,000 which he turned over to Vega Sanchez in the parking lot of the El Residential Hotel in Matamoros. Later, in October 1998, after Yarrington won the election, he delivered another $500,000.

Once governor, Yarrington appointed the commanders of the various cities and offered protection to the Gulf Cartel. In mid-March 1999, Vega Sanchez died of a cerebral hemorrage. The payments were then made to Jorge Max Castillo, the state's subcommander. Between June and December 1999, "Oscar" said that Gulf Cartel bosses made three payments to Yarrington through Max Castillo, each one of between $300,00 and $500,000, through intermediary Pascual Fuente, another high-ranking state police commander.

"El Bimbo" was captured in April 2008 by the Mexican military and is serving a sentence at the Federal Penitentiary del Altiplano. Yarrington fled to the United Sates and is named in warrants oprdering his presence to answer to the charges.