Televisa host Yolanda Andrade, facilitated Chapo/Kate introduction

Lucio with material from Reforma, Thank you Daily Reader

                     Investigations reopened of disappearances and financial                          collusion with Sinaloa Cartel

An old case of disappearances and ties of Yolanda Andrade’s  family, with the Cártel de Sinaloa, has been reactivated by the government subsequent to the capture Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Andrade, the actress and TV host of "MoJo" and "Netas Divinas" on the Televisa partner Unicable, is originally from Culiacán,  is being investigated by  authorities,  for her involvement in the Kate del Castillo and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman case. She is suspected of being the link bringing the Capo and Castillo together.

An old case of disappearances and  ties of Yolanda Andrade’s  family, with the Cártel de Sinaloa, has been reactivated by the government subsequent to the capture Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Reforma is reporting that intelligence revealed that Andrade,  Castillo's  close friend,  was not only the nexus of Chapo and Castillo, but it was Castillo who made the overture, requesting Andrade’s assistance in arranging a connection.  Not only would Andrade become the link, but she would have an advisory role in the proposed film to be produced by Castillo’s production company with Chapo about his life.  The interest of the government is not centered on the film or the interview that transpired, but questions about the financial backing for the film, and possible financing with illicit money.

These new reports may have been part of the intelligence Mexico’s attorney general spoke about when she referred to Chapo’s network of producers, film makers and actors, and not solely Castillo and actor Sean Penn.

There are two issues federal authorities are investigating that involve Andrade.

One involves a party at her home in Culiacán, Sinaloa, when she was 25 years old, where 3 young attendees disappeared.

The other issue is suspicions that her father, Rolando Andrade, had financial ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.

According to federal documents that Reforma accessed, in June 1996 Abraham Hernández, Jorge Cabada and Juan Hernández Argüelles, vanished from the home of Andrade’s party, a home with legal ownership of Rolando Andrade, located on El Dorado Blvd,  in the capital city of Sinaloa.

Christian Alvarez,  had been the  boyfriend Helga, the youngest Andrade daughter.

The couple had an argument. Someone went to Rommel Andrade, the elder brother,  and said “Christian, is threatening to hit Helga!”.

Rommel now enraged, approached Christian and landed some blows. The ​​Hernandez’ and Alvarez, were cousins and  the Hernandez’ tried to separate Rommel and Christian. Rommel came out and threatened “You will pay  bastards, no one touches or messes with my family!”

After the threat , the boys left the party and dropped off another cousin at his house, where they spent about 45 minutes. They then proceeded to their homes.

But on their way, according to witnesses, they were arrested by officers of the Municipal Police, at about 4 am. 

And never seen again.

The investigation was initiated by local authorities, the same municipal agency who “arrested” the young men.  However, following strong protests from relatives, the investigation was then conducted by the Federal PGR.

After months of investigation, investigators learned the 3 young men were picked up, then immediately handed over to the Andrade family security, by municipal police.

Authorities said  several people gave testimony, about the alleged involvement of agents of the Municipal Police and bodyguards of the entrepreneur Rolando Andrade.

The investigation resulted in additional evidence. That led to  five arrest warrants against alleged suspects, which only three were executed.

However all injunctions collapsed by a ruling of  “lack of evidence”.

The court did not grant warrants against those who witnesses said were behind the abductions and probable murders.

Rommel Andrade and his father,  the late Rolando Andrade

The families put up a valiant, and dangerous, proactive fight,  to have the case solved, and a massive search for their children.

Days passed, then months and nothing, now there are more than 19 years later, the three young men  have not been located,  no one brought to justice, and the case has turned to ice, until  a few days ago.

The young men  remain on Sinaloa’s missing list, unresolved, and bodies were never found.

The three arresting police officers  also disappeared.

The mothers of the disappeared, blamed the brother Yolanda Andrade, Rommel Andrade Almada for the disappearances.  Every year on the anniversary of the day their children disappeared, the mothers go to the home where the party was held.  They leave flowers and poster board messages.

Rommel has since married and moved to the United States.

'El Chapo’ attorney says Sean Penn Lied, and is demanding Penn testify in court.

“Where’s the proof?  Where’s the audio?” Juan Pablo Badillo, of El Chapo’s legal team asks. He says Senn Penn lied in his interview text article.  Especially noting the part where Chapo boasts about drug trafficking, and he being responsible for trafficking more drugs than anyone else in the world.

For sure it was a statement that was difficult to comprehend, as to why Chapo would utter such a claim, especially to a person he just met and on record.

Badillo insists Penn lied, "It is a lie, absurd speculation from Mr Penn," Badillo, told Reuters in an interview, "Its a lie, absurd speculation from Mr Penn," Juan Pablo Badillo, one of a team of Guzman lawyers, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

"In a way, yes, it does complicate things, Mr Penn should be called to testify to respond about the stupidities he has said," Badillo added.

He said that based on years of working Guzman, he was certain he would not make such a self-incriminating statement. "He could not have made these claims".

Penn stated in his interview that he was not allowed to video or audio tape the meeting.  Penn claims Chapo easily bragged about his operation, "I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world. I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats." Supposedly said by El Chapo to Penn.