Miss Universe co-owner Raúl Rocha tied to Mexican…
Raúl Rocha, president and part-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, is said to be dealing with severe prison accusations in Mexico.
Prosecutors reportedly claimed that Rocha is suspected of collaborating in a prison community concerned in trafficking medicine, weapons and stolen fuel along the Guatemala–Mexico border, per a report from the Mexican newspaper Reforma revealed Wednesday.
The allegations are said to have stemmed from an investigation by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, which claimed Rocha held a management position in a group that smuggled fuel across the Usumacinta River and then transported it by truck into central Mexico, including the state of Querétaro.
Raúl Rocha allegedly faces claims of being concerned with medicine and firearms trafficking. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Officials also alleged that the same community dealt with narcotics and firearms, as effectively.
Reforma reported that authorities carried out raids on a number of properties related to Rocha and that, during those searches, investigators allegedly discovered financial data indicating he contributed money to the prison group.
One doc reportedly confirmed Rocha had made a cost of roughly 2.1 million pesos. Based on those findings, prosecutors moved ahead with a request for an arrest warrant back in August.
Prosecutors went on to declare the prison group had purported ties to officers at varied ranges of authorities, giving it access, safety and affect that allowed unlawful fuel and other contraband to transfer more freely throughout the area.
Rocha was the subject of police raids on his properties. Getty Images
The case recommended the community stretched far past trafficking and into political connections.
Reforma moreover reported that Rocha approached prosecutors in October to search a plea deal.
As half of that reported proposal, the Miss Universe proprietor would allegedly present information in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
Rocha and former Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig at the Empire State Building in New York City on Nov. 22, 2024. Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust
It is presently unclear if that plea offer was accepted or whether or not negotiations are ongoing, per the Mexican newspaper.
Rocha, meanwhile, has denied any wrongdoing.
“It is completely false that I have an arrest warrant,” he told the Spanish outlet El País when requested about the case this week.
The Post has reached out to the Miss Universe Organization for remark.
Rocha denies the claims against him. Getty Images
The accusations against Rocha observe a troubled and dramatic time for the Miss Universe pageant.
This yr’s competitors, which ended when Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch, 25, was topped the winner on Nov. 21, confronted turmoil marked by contestant walkouts, choose resignations and accusations of unfair scoring.
Miss Universe exec Nawat Itsaragrisil was dismissed from the pageant on Nov. 4 after a tense confrontation with Bosch resulted in a number of contestants strolling out of a pre-pageant event in protest.
Miss Universe choose Omar Harfouch then made headlines when he resigned from the pageant a few days before it formally kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand.
Harfouch claimed that the Top 30 finalists had been chosen in secret long before the judges ever forged their votes.
Rocha during a press convention for Miss Universe in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 4, 2024. Getty Images
Most just lately, Miss Universe management got here under fire when Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry, 28, suffered a scary fall from the event stage on Nov. 19.
Although Rocha said that Henry was in “good health” and “nearing discharge” following the tumble, fellow contestant Miss Haiti Melissa Sapini alleged that Miss Universe leaders blamed Miss Jamaica for the incident.
“I don’t know that they handled that correctly,” Sapini, 22, told People this week. “The first thing [the pageant staff member] said was it’s because she wasn’t paying attention.”
“After he said that, then he was like, ‘Of course, safety is our number one priority,’ this, that,” she added. “But it’s like, ‘Are you serious?’ That was really scary.”
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