Mexican Cartel Scion Sentenced in U.S. as Long-Standing Murder Case of Journalist Javier Valdez Continues

February 04, 2026 – Mexico –

A suspected cartel figure accused of ordering the 2017 murder of veteran Mexican journalist Javier Valdez Cárdenas has been sentenced to prison in the United States, renewing international focus on the unresolved aspects of the journalist’s killing and broader issues of press safety in Mexico. Dámaso López Serrano, known as “Mini Lic” and son of a powerful Sinaloa cartel leader, received a five-year sentence in a U.S. federal court on 4 February 2026 for fentanyl trafficking — a case that could lead to his extradition to Mexico to face charges in Valdez’s homicide.

Valdez, a respected investigative journalist who co-founded the weekly Ríodoce and covered drug trafficking and organized crime, was shot multiple times in broad daylight on 15 May 2017 in Culiacán, Sinaloa — one of Mexico’s most cartel-dominated regions. His death was widely believed to be retaliation for his reporting on criminal networks and corruption. Mexican prosecutors long alleged that López Serrano ordered the killing, although he remained outside Mexico’s jurisdiction for years.

Previous court actions in Mexico have led to convictions of hit men involved in the attack, including a 32-year sentence for one of Valdez’s murderers. However, López Serrano — suspected as the mastermind — had not been tried in Mexico due to his legal status in the United States, which had previously declined extradition requests because he was a protected federal witness in unrelated cases. Mexican authorities have persisted in seeking López Serrano’s return to face justice for Valdez’s death.

The recent U.S. sentencing on separate charges represents a potential shift. Under his plea agreement, López Serrano’s cooperation with U.S. authorities contributed to a relatively light sentence on drug charges, but federal prosecutors indicated that his conviction could change the U.S. government’s stance on extraditing him to Mexico to face the journalist-murder charge. Mexican officials have said they remain committed to securing his transfer to answer for the killing.

Valdez was internationally recognised for his courageous journalism and had won several awards, including the International Press Freedom Award for his work exposing violence and organized crime. His murder sparked outrage among press freedom groups and journalists worldwide, underlining Mexico’s status as one of the most dangerous countries for media workers, with the drug war and impunity contributing to persistent threats against reporters.

Family members, press freedom advocates, and journalist associations have repeatedly called for justice in Valdez’s case, underscoring that accountability for those who order attacks on journalists is crucial to combating violence and protecting freedom of expression. López Serrano’s current prison term and possible future extradition continue to shape that effort, with hopes that his trial in Mexico could bring closure to a case that has become symbolic of the risks faced by investigative reporters in regions marked by organized crime and corruption.

Reference –

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/04/javier-valdez-mexican-journalist-killed/