# Mexican judge arrested after U.S. charges him of accepting $2M bribe in case linked to former Olympian

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/mexican-judge-arrested-after-u-s-charges-him-of-accepting-2m-bribe-in-case-linked-to-former-olympian/
- Published: 2026-11-05T18:01:23+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T21:07:32+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mexican-judge-arrested-us-charges-accepting-2m-bribe-free-canadian-drug-trafficker
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- A Mexican judge was arrested in Colombia.
- US prosecutors allege he took a $2 million bribe.
- The case is tied to a transnational cocaine network.

## Summary

Mexican judge Luis Benítez Alcántara was arrested in Colombia after US authorities charged him with nine counts related to helping Canadian drug trafficker Ryan Clark. Prosecutors allege Benítez accepted a $2 million bribe to grant Clark bond and release, making the case significant as an alleged link between a public official and a large transnational cocaine operation.

The indictment says Clark sent about $2.75 million to intermediaries over four months from November 2024, and Benítez received $2 million on 24 February 2025, the day he ordered Clark’s release. Mexican officers arrested Clark again days later and transferred him to US custody. Clark and former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding face separate charges including cocaine trafficking and murder; Benítez could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.