
Mexican authorities find 383 bodies at Ciudad Juarez crematorium
Chihuahua state prosecutor César Jáuregui said Monday that the people had been dead for at least three or four years. "Who knows what the ulterior motive of these subjects was, because storing that number also makes you think they weren't providing the service,' he said.
Authorities did not yet know why so many bodies had been stored at the crematorium, which worked with six funeral homes in the city. The bodies were discovered last Thursday. Jáuregui said the crematorium's owner and an employee had been arrested.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab Times
an hour ago
- Arab Times
Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted of most serious charges
NEW YORK, July 2, (AP): Sean "Diddy Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offense but acquitted Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put one of hip-hop's most celebrated figures behind bars for life. The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality TV star. The foreperson confirmed the verdict reached was unanimous. After they read the verdict, Combs held his hands up in a prayer motion, looking at jury and hugged his defense lawyer Teny Geragos. Combs was convicted of transporting individuals across state lines, including his girlfriends and paid companions, in violation of the federal Mann Act. However, the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, which involved allegations that he used his money, influence, and intimidation to control his girlfriends during prolonged, drug-involved activities. Combs and his defense team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges. After the verdict was read, the judge gave the jury guidance on speaking about the case to the media, to the public, and more. Combs continuing to pump his right fist subtly, seemingly satisfied that he was acquitted on the most serious charges. Combs seemed buoyant arriving in the courtroom earlier Wednesday morning, a contrast to his mood a day earlier after he learned that the jury at his sex trafficking trial had reached a yet-to-be-disclosed verdict on all but one of the five charges the hip-hop mogul faces. Combs smiled and clasped his hands together in the air toward his family and supporters before hugging several of his lawyers and sitting down to await the outcome of the jury's third day of deliberations. A short while later, Combs, his head bowed, stood several feet from his family for less than a minute as they sat with their heads bowed in prayer. As they did on Monday, Combs and family members then applauded before he was led from the courtroom by US marshals. The family later got in a van and left the courthouse. On Tuesday, US District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day after the panel of eight men and four women said it was unable to reach consensus on the top count: racketeering conspiracy. The judge agreed with prosecutors and Combs' defense team that less than 13 hours of deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts. The jury's decision on the other charges - two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution - remains under wraps for now. In a note to the court late Tuesday, the jury said "unpersuadable opinions on both sides' among some jurors had prevented the group from reaching a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge. Racketeering conspiracy is the most complicated charge in the trial and carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. The sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The disclosure of the jury note about the partial verdict seemed to put defense attorneys and their client in a dour mood even before it was read in open court by the judge. Eight defense lawyers formed a half-circle behind Combs as the smiles and lighthearted mood that accompanied the arrival of other jury notes over two days seemed absent as the attorneys contemplated the possibility that jurors had reached agreement on counts that carry the heaviest sentencing penalties. Combs appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point, the hip-hop mogul solemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him. After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day. Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, "Love you' and "I'll be all right.' Marshals then led him from the room. Earlier in their deliberations, the jury requested to review testimony from Cassie, the R&B singer and Diddy's former longtime girlfriend, as well as from Daniel Phillip, whom Diddy is accused of involving in the case. Prosecutors allege that Combs coerced two girlfriends into drug-fueled encounters with male companions. Lawyers for the Bad Boy Records founder contend prosecutors are trying to criminalize Combs' open relationship lifestyle. They say his conduct, if anything, amounted to domestic violence, not federal felonies.


Arab Times
7 hours ago
- Arab Times
Mexican banks face cascading consequences following US sanctions
MEXICO CITY, July 2, (AP): Three Mexican financial institutions sanctioned by the Trump administration last week have felt a cascade of economic consequences following the allegations that they helped launder millions of dollars for drug cartels. The US Treasury Department announced that it was blocking transactions between US banks and Mexican branches of CIBanco and Intercam Banco, as well as the brokering firm Vector Casa de Bolsa. All three have fiercely rejected the claims. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum accused US officials of providing no evidence to back their allegations, though the sanctions announcement made specific accusations on how money was transferred through the companies. It detailed how "mules' moved money through accounts in the US, as well as transactions carried out with Chinese companies that US officials said provided materials to produce fentanyl. Mexico's banking authority has announced that it is temporarily taking over management of CIBanco and Intercam Banco to protect creditors. Sheinbaum said Tuesday that the Mexican government is doing everything within its power to ensure that creditors aren't affected, and said they were well "within their right' to pull their money from the banks. The US Treasury Department said that the sanctions would go into effect 21 days after the announcement. Fitch Ratings has downgraded the three institutions and other affiliates, citing "anti-money laundering concerns' and saying the drop "reflects the imminent negative impact' that the sanctions could have. "The new ratings reflect the significantly more vulnerable credit profile of these entities in response to the aforementioned warnings, given the potential impact on their ability to meet their financial obligations,' the credit rating agency wrote in a statement. On Monday, CIBanco announced that Visa Inc. had announced to them with little warning that it had "unilaterally decided to disconnect its platform for all international transactions' through CIBanco. The bank accused Visa of not complying with the 21-day grace period laid out by the sanctions. "We would like to reiterate that your funds are safe and can be reimbursed through our branch network," the bank wrote. "We reiterate to our customers that this was a decision beyond CIBanco's control.'


Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
Mexican authorities find 383 bodies at Ciudad Juarez crematorium
MEXICO CITY, July 1, (AP): An anonymous call led Mexican authorities in the border city of Ciudad Juarez to a chilling discovery at a crematorium: 383 bodies and the partial remains of six other people. Chihuahua state prosecutor César Jáuregui said Monday that the people had been dead for at least three or four years. "Who knows what the ulterior motive of these subjects was, because storing that number also makes you think they weren't providing the service,' he said. Authorities did not yet know why so many bodies had been stored at the crematorium, which worked with six funeral homes in the city. The bodies were discovered last Thursday. Jáuregui said the crematorium's owner and an employee had been arrested.