Israel Vallarta was released from the Maximum Security Prison in the State of Mexico,"El Altiplano", after 20 years of confinement without a sentence, since his responsibility could never be proven.
The man hugged his family and remembered that, during the time he was deprived of his liberty, he lost loved ones like his parents and siblings.
Israel's first words were of gratitude to all those who supported him during this time, but he stated that he never lost faith in proving his innocence.
"I knew the truth would prevail sooner or later. It took me 20 years to be able to stand before you and exercise my right of reply," he told the media.
He assured that he will speak in the coming days, after almost 20 years in prison.
He pointed out that there are many people responsible for the irregularities of his arrest, among them Luis Cárdenas Palomino, who is currently detained and recently left the Altiplano to be transferred to another CEFERESO.
"Luis Cárdenas Palomino is no longer in this prison. He left here Wednesday morning. We don't know where he is. Apparently, we're told he went to the Santa Marta prison. Others say no, that he went to Ramos Arizpe. We don't know."
He pointed out that justice will also come to all of them, as in the coming days he will speak and provide more details about all the irregularities and abuses in his legal process.
However, he acknowledged that what hurt him most while being imprisoned was losing his loved ones, since during those 20 years his parents and some of his siblings died.
"My mother is gone, my father is gone, my brother is gone, I'm not going to get them back, I'm not going to get back the time that passed, but there are other things."
After his voice broke as he remembered his deceased relatives, he immediately smiled and said that he was now a grandfather, so there was more family to meet and goals to achieve, as he intends to finish a degree in criminal law.
"I want to finish my criminal law degree and beyond; there are many things I want."
"My mother is gone, my father is gone, brothers," Israel Vallarta laments the death of relatives while he was in the Altiplano
— Milenio Estado de México (@milenio_edomex) August 1, 2025
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He assured that he will enjoy these hours of freedom with his family.
Finally, he said he will enjoy these first hours, his first days of freedom, to enjoy his family, and then he will begin to provide details of what happened during the last 20 years and present evidence that proves his innocence and reveals those responsible for his arrest and deprivation of liberty.
Arrest of Israel Vallarte in 2025
Israel Vallarta Cisneros was arrested on December 8, 2005 by members of the then Federal Investigation Agency (AFI), in an operation that would later be pointed out for irregularities, such as the alleged setup broadcast live on national television.
In the same case, French citizen Florence Cassez, Vallarta's partner at the time, was arrested.
The capture took place at a ranch located on the Mexico - Cuernavaca highway.
Authorities presented Vallarta as the alleged leader of a gang of kidnappers known as"Los Zodiaco"; people were found tied up in the building, apparently deprived of their liberty.
However, later versions revealed that the scene had been staged for the media, under the coordination of AFI commanders, then headed by Genaro García Luna.
Following his arrest, Israel Vallarta was held in the Altiplano prison. He did not face immediate trial; he remained deprived of his liberty without sentencing for nearly 20 years. During that time, he reported being tortured and subjected to due process violations.
In 2013, Florence Cassez was released after a ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, which determined that her rights were violated during her detention.
Israel Vallarta, however, remained in prison. Despite public statements about his case, his legal situation remained unchanged for nearly two decades.
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