After serving a U.S. prison sentence for money laundering, former Mexican governor Tomás Yarrington has been deported to Mexico to face additional charges.
At a Glance
- Tomás Yarrington Deported: Former Tamaulipas governor returned to Mexico by ICE
- U.S. Conviction: Served 108 months for money laundering conspiracy
- Pending Mexican Charges: Faces organized crime and illicit transaction allegations
- International Arrest: Captured in Italy in 2017 under a false identity
- Political Background: Once a presidential candidate for Mexico’s PRI party
From U.S. Prison to Mexican Custody
Tomás Jesús Yarrington Ruvalcaba, the former governor of Tamaulipas and a 2005 presidential hopeful, has been deported to Mexico after serving a U.S. prison sentence for money laundering. ICE officials handed him over to Mexican authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on April 9, 2025. Yarrington had been serving a 108-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Thomson, Illinois, following his 2021 guilty plea to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Watch KGNS’s report on Yarrington’s deportation and pending charges.
Yarrington’s legal troubles began long before his U.S. conviction. In 2017, he was arrested in Italy while traveling under a false identity, following a 2013 indictment in the U.S. for money laundering and drug-related charges. After a contested extradition process, he was brought to the U.S. in 2018 to face trial.
Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme
During his tenure as governor from 1999 to 2005, Yarrington accepted over $3.5 million in bribes from individuals and companies seeking to do business with the state of Tamaulipas. He laundered these funds through the purchase of U.S. properties, luxury vehicles, and other assets, often using nominee buyers to conceal his ownership.
According to a statement from ICE, “Yarrington laundered his illegally obtained bribe money in the United States by purchasing beachfront condominiums, large estates, commercial developments, airplanes and luxury vehicles.”
The U.S. Department of Justice emphasized that Yarrington’s actions violated both U.S. and Mexican laws, underscoring the international scope of his criminal enterprise. His conviction followed a multi-agency investigation involving the DEA, IRS, FBI, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Facing Justice in Mexico
Now back in Mexico, Yarrington is detained at the Altiplano federal prison in the State of Mexico. He faces charges including organized crime and transactions with illegally obtained resources. These charges are separate from his U.S. conviction and stem from longstanding corruption allegations during his governorship.
The Mexican government has been pursuing Yarrington since 2012, and his return marks a major development in efforts to hold former officials accountable. As the legal proceedings move forward, Yarrington’s case is being closely watched as a symbol of the persistent struggle against high-level political corruption.
