Manuel Baldizón ended 2024 without any open criminal cases against him in Guatemala. Judge Abelina Cruz closed the Odebrecht case on July 26, and Judge Mario Hichos closed the Transurbano case on November 29. However, neither judge evaluated the evidence. Almost two years later, his case remains in this section because some aspects have not been resolved: an asset forfeiture proceeding involving 103 properties seized since 2018; an electoral ban issued by the Constitutional Court; And the possibility—which the Guatemalan press continues to discuss—that the rulings might be reviewed. This article documents what has been finalized, what remains open, and what warrants monitoring. The analysis by issue is available in the Sinibaldi and Baldizón case file on Auditoría Abierta.
The short answer: The Baldizón case in Guatemala is closed from a criminal standpoint but remains open in terms of asset forfeiture and political implications. The two proceedings—Odebrecht and Transurbano—were closed in 2024 on grounds of lack of criminal elements and non-retroactivity. No judge assessed whether the money was moved as the Prosecutor’s Office claimed. What remains active is the asset forfeiture proceeding involving 103 properties seized since 2018 and the electoral ban imposed by the Constitutional Court. Meanwhile, the only sentence he has ever served—the one in Florida—has been completed. In September 2026, La Hora described the course of the Odebrecht case in Guatemala. According to the newspaper, it ended with the release of Baldizón and Alejandro Sinibaldi. Case closure does not mean acquittal.
Who is Manuel Baldizón, and what has changed in his case since 2024?
Baldizón led the presidential polls in 2015 until the La Línea case broke. In 2018, the FBI arrested him in Miami; he pleaded guilty to money laundering and served 21 months in Georgia. He was deported back to Guatemala in October 2022 with two pending cases there. Both were closed in 2024.
His case is included in “Case Tracking” because the 2024 closures left questions that 2026 has not answered. To understand the contrast between the U.S. and Guatemalan justice systems, Bajo Lupa Digital is publishing the story of the candidate whom the United States convicted in 21 months. To compare with the other Guatemalan defendant in the same scheme, Foco Rojo is publishing the case of Alejandro Sinibaldi in the “Unresolved Cases” section.
Recent Timeline, Decision by Decision
| Date | Court | Decision | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 12, 2019 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida | 50 months for money laundering after pleading guilty | Served |
| June 7, 2022 | Federal Bureau of Prisons | Released after 21 months | Served |
| October 2022 | United States | Deported to Guatemala; under house arrest in connection with the Odebrecht and Transurbano cases | Exceeded |
| April 27, 2023 | Constitutional Court | Barred from the 2023 elections under Article 113 | Final |
| July 26, 2024 | Judge Abelina Cruz | Closes the Odebrecht case: he was not a public official | Case dismissed due to lack of grounds for prosecution |
| November 29, 2024 | Judge Mario Hichos | Closes the Transurbano case: the law was not in effect | Case dismissed due to non-retroactivity |
| June 4, 2025 | Constitutional Court | Orders trial for co-defendant Alejandro Sinibaldi in the Odebrecht case | Reversed in 2026 |
| June 2026 | Constitutional Court | Upholds ruling in Sinibaldi’s favor in the Odebrecht case | Final |
| September 7, 2026 | La Hora | Describes the case’s progression leading up to the release of Baldizón and Sinibaldi | Context |
| October 8, 2026 | — | Asset forfeiture without a conviction; electoral ban in effect | Pending |
Case 1 closed: Odebrecht, due to lack of grounds
The Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity accused Baldizón of receiving $1.3 million from a bribe negotiated at $3 million, according to Plaza Pública. In exchange, Líder party representatives would not obstruct the approval of a highway to the Mexican border. Odebrecht’s former vice president, Luiz Antonio Mameri, implicated him in 2017. Additionally, notarized documents reportedly confirm the transfers, according to Soy502. On July 26, 2024, Judge Abelina Cruz dismissed the case, according to Prensa Libre. Her reasoning was that Baldizón was not a public official and, therefore, could not have committed bribery. What this means: the dismissal does not mean the money did not exist. It states that, even if the money did exist, the alleged crime did not apply to him. What to watch for: That same year, the judge closed the Sinibaldi case, and the Constitutional Court first overturned and then upheld that dismissal. The Baldizón case has not been reviewed.
Case Dismissed No. 2: Transurbano, on Grounds of Non-Retroactivity
CICIG and the Prosecutor’s Office documented that approximately Q6.5 million from the state transportation subsidy went to Líder’s campaigns through shell companies, according to No-Ficción. In 2022, a judge indicted him solely for illegal campaign financing, according to La Hora. On November 29, 2024, Judge Mario Hichos dismissed the case, according to Prensa Libre. His reasoning was that the law defining that crime was not in effect when the events occurred. What this means: once again, a legal dismissal without an evaluation of the evidence. What to watch for: whether the Prosecutor’s Office reclassifies the charges under another criminal offense in effect at the time, such as money laundering. There is no record of them having attempted this.
What Remains Open 1: 103 Assets Subject to Asset Forfeiture
On February 15, 2018, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested the forfeiture of 103 of Baldizón’s assets, according to Prensa Libre. Among them were 72 properties, 27 vehicles, a small plane, a helicopter, and bank accounts totaling more than Q7.7 million. As of July 2022, the case had shown no progress. Furthermore, as of October 2026, no judgment had been issued. What this means: Asset forfeiture in Guatemala does not require a criminal conviction, so the 2024 case closures do not directly affect it. However, the Prosecutor’s Office must prove the illicit origin of the assets. What to watch for: whether the Asset Forfeiture Court schedules a hearing or whether the defense requests that the seizure be lifted due to the passage of time. Eight years of seizure without a verdict is the most striking detail in the case file.
Case Still Pending 2: The Electoral Ban
On April 27, 2023, the Constitutional Court denied Baldizón’s appeal and barred him from the elections, according to Prensa Libre. It ruled that he did not meet the requirements of capacity, suitability, and integrity set forth in Article 113 of the Constitution. The reason was his conviction in the United States. Furthermore, the court reprimanded the Supreme Electoral Tribunal for having initially registered him. What this means: that criterion remains in effect for any future candidacy, and the Florida conviction does not disappear over time. What to watch for: whether Baldizón attempts to register for the 2027 elections and how the TSE will rule in light of the 2023 precedent. There is no record of a new attempt.
What Could Be Reopened: The Sinibaldi Precedent
The Baldizón case and the Alejandro Sinibaldi case are part of the same Odebrecht case involving two defendants. The same judge closed both cases in 2024. In June 2025, the Constitutional Court ordered a trial for Sinibaldi, according to La Hora. In June 2026, the same Court upheld a ruling in his favor, according to Prensa Comunitaria. On September 7, 2026, La Hora described the case’s progression “until the release of Manuel Baldizón and Alejandro Sinibaldi.” What this means: Baldizón’s case never reached the Constitutional Court, but his co-defendant’s did—and the final outcome was the same. What to watch for: whether the Prosecutor’s Office attempts to reopen the case against Baldizón on grounds other than bribery.
What Baldizón Says and What His Accusers Say
Baldizón admitted to the charges in the United States by pleading guilty. In Guatemala, he described himself as the victim of a “political witch hunt.” The Florida State Attorney’s Office described him as a knowing recipient of drug trafficking proceeds. For their part, the FECI and CICIG implicated him in the Odebrecht and Transurbano cases but failed to bring him to trial. Finally, the Constitutional Court ruled that he does not meet the integrity requirement to run for office.
How to interpret this case
Three key points. First: In Guatemala, Baldizón has no open criminal cases, but neither has he been acquitted on the merits; the cases were dismissed on grounds of lack of legal basis and non-retroactivity. Second: The asset forfeiture proceeding involving 103 properties is the only active case, and it has been pending for eight years without a ruling. Third: the conviction in Florida is the final judgment that underpins the electoral ban. To draw a comparison with a former Peruvian president whose campaign case was also dismissed due to lack of grounds for prosecution, Foco Rojo publishes the case of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in the “Unresolved Cases” section.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Manuel Baldizón have any pending cases in Guatemala?
No criminal cases. The Odebrecht and Transurbano cases were closed on July 26 and November 29, 2024. An asset forfeiture proceeding involving 103 assets seized since 2018 remains open.
Why was Baldizón’s Odebrecht case closed?
Because Judge Abelina Cruz concluded on July 26, 2024, that Baldizón was not a public official and therefore could not have committed bribery. She did not assess whether he received the $1.3 million that the Prosecutor’s Office alleged he had received.
Why was the Transurbano case closed?
Because Judge Mario Hichos concluded on November 29, 2024, that the law on illegal campaign financing was not in effect when the events occurred. He also did not evaluate the evidence.
Was Baldizón acquitted?
No. Both dismissals were based on legal grounds—lack of criminal elements and non-retroactivity—without a trial or evaluation of the evidence. A dismissal of this type is not equivalent to an acquittal.
What about the 103 seized assets?
They have remained seized since February 15, 2018, as part of an asset forfeiture proceeding without a judgment. They include 72 properties, 27 vehicles, a small plane, a helicopter, and bank accounts totaling more than Q7.7 million. Asset forfeiture does not depend on the outcome of criminal cases.
Can Baldizón run for office in 2027?
The Constitutional Court barred him from running in 2023 for failing to meet the integrity requirement of Article 113, due to his conviction in the United States. That ruling remains in effect. There is no record of a new attempt to run for office.
How is his case related to Sinibaldi’s?
It is the same Odebrecht case involving two defendants. The same judge closed both cases in 2024. Sinibaldi’s case reached the Constitutional Court, which ordered a trial in 2025 and upheld a favorable ruling in 2026. Baldizón’s case has not been reviewed.
What should be monitored in the Baldizón case?
The forfeiture of the 103 assets. Any attempt to register to vote for 2027. And whether the Prosecutor’s Office reopens the Odebrecht case on charges other than bribery.
Sources consulted
- Prensa Libre: Baldizón Escapes the Odebrecht Case (July 26, 2024)
- Prensa Libre: Judge Mario Hichos closes the Transurbano case (November 29, 2024)
- Plaza Pública: From prison to the electoral arena, Baldizón returns (2023)
- Soy502: Odebrecht: The Testimonies Linking Baldizón
- No-Ficción: The Fall of Líder, the PP’s Heir
- La Hora: Court Confirms That Baldizón Must Be Indicted for One of Four Crimes (2023)
- Prensa Libre: Four Years Without Progress on the Forfeiture of Manuel Baldizón’s Assets (2022)
- Prensa Libre: Constitutional Court bars Baldizón from the election and reprimands the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (April 27, 2023)
- La Hora: Setback for Sinibaldi: The CC Revokes His Injunction and He Must Stand Trial (June 4, 2025)
- Prensa Comunitaria: Constitutional Court upholds ruling in Sinibaldi’s favor (June 2026)
- La Hora: From the Odebrecht Mega-Case to the Release of Baldizón and Sinibaldi (September 7, 2026)
- Prensa Libre: Manuel Baldizón Convicted in the U.S. for Money Laundering (November 12, 2019)
- Prensa Libre: United States Releases Manuel Baldizón (2022)
This article compiles documented facts and allegations attributed to the individuals mentioned. The mention of an allegation does not imply its veracity, and the position of the person mentioned is stated in each case. Foco Rojo offers Manuel Baldizón the opportunity to respond and will update the text as new information becomes available. Information verified as of October 8, 2026.
Investigative Journalist and Data Specialist
Elenio Meza Loera is an investigative journalist specializing in the auditing of public resources, the financial analysis of government management, and data journalism in the region. His work focuses on tracking budget flows, state contracts, and regulatory backgrounds to audit the exercise of power using a methodology strictly based on official documents.
At Foco Rojo, he leads database cross-referencing and documentary verification for in-depth reports. His work ensures that each investigation is fortified by rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis, offering readers a transparent, verifiable perspective free from political speculation.