SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Araceli Brown Figueredo, the former mayor of Rosarito and now a federal deputy in Mexico’s House of Representatives, has been linked to the Sinaloa cartel by the U.S. Treasury Department, according to a report in the El Sol Newspaper in Tijuana.
She is accused of being involved with a branch of the Sinaloa cartel known as Los Mayos and its leaders in Rosarito, brothers Alfonso and Rene A., who according to the Treasury Department, control the coastal city about 20 miles south of the border.
Brown Figueredo was mayor of the city from 2019 to 2024.
She is also accused of having a personal relationship with Candelario A., who is also linked to Los Mayos.
El Sol reported that due to his relationship with the former mayor, Candelario A., controlled areas within the city of Rosarito and appointed allies to critical posts within the municipal government.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Brown Figueredo benefited from Los Mayos’ extortion operations and used the Rosarito Police Department to act as a shield to protect their illicit activities in the region, including the use of several bars and nightclubs that were reportedly laundering money for the Sinaloa cartel.
Acting on accusations by its American counterparts, Mexico’s own treasury department has reportedly frozen all the bank accounts belonging to Brown Figueredo and her associates.
“This is a preventive effort, it’s not a judicial determination and it’s not meant to prejudice any legal responsibility without further evidence,” Mexico’s Treasury minister wrote.
On a social media post, Brown Figueredo denied all allegations, claiming her bank accounts are active and that she is still able to travel to the U.S., including a visit to San Diego last Sunday.
“I’m the subject of libel that pretends to discredit me and blemish my reputation,” she wrote in Spanish. “I’m in good standing in any situation and before any authority. I will continue working on your behalf as always.
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