USA v. García Luna

Lemonada
  • 4.7 (190)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • WEEKLY SERIES
USA v. García Luna

A Mexican-American journalist and a Cuban-Mexican investigative reporter walk into a recording studio with a bottle of tequila and reveal one of the most shocking true crime investigative stories you will ever hear. From Futuro Investigates and Latino USA —in partnership with Lemonada Media—“USA v. García Luna” tells the story of the most powerful Mexican government official ever to face trial in the United States for his alleged ties to the infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. His name is Genaro García Luna. Maybe you've never heard about him, but in five episodes, Pulitzer Prize winner Maria Hinojosa and Emmy Award winner Peniley Ramírez will tell you why he matters and how his story connects to the U.S. government, the war on drugs and millions of dollars from U.S. taxpayers. This is not your regular narco series. It’s the result of a 10-year investigation and a shared journalistic obsession. We tackle corruption in the DEA, question how U.S. money funds the war on drugs and how Washington picks its allies. It gets deep, personal and absurd. It’s really like true crime meets telenovela. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

  1. Episode 1: Untouchable

    EPISODE 1

    Episode 1: Untouchable

    Peniley Ramírez has one obsession: Genaro García Luna, Mexico’s top security official from 2006 to 2012. For years, Peniley broke news of his alleged corruption in Mexico and the U.S.. Yet, García Luna seemed untouchable. That is, until his name was brought up by a former cartel leader during Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s U.S. trial. Now, he faces his own trial. In this episode, Peniley dives into the latest with her new friend Maria Hinojosa. Over a bottle of tequila, they raise questions about what García Luna's upcoming trial says about the role of the U.S. in the “war on drugs.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  2. True Crime Telenovela: Behind the Scenes of USA v. García Luna

    EPISODE 1 BONUS

    True Crime Telenovela: Behind the Scenes of USA v. García Luna

    We're sharing an episode from Futuro Media's political podcast In The Thick. Co-hosts Maria and Julio are joined by Peniley Ramírez, executive producer of Futuro Unidad Hinojosa and Futuro’s Special Projects and Investigative Units, for a behind-the-scenes look into “USA v. García Luna.” Maria and Peniley talk about how this five-episode series reimagines investigative journalism. They get into their experience reporting on the rise and fall of Genaro García Luna, a former high-ranking Mexican official facing trial in New York City next month for allegedly working with drug cartels to bring drugs into the United States. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams, File See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
  3. Episode 2: The Mexican Hoover

    EPISODE 2

    Episode 2: The Mexican Hoover

    From CSI to Donna Summer, García Luna was fascinated by anything American. Several U.S. officials said that García Luna was the person they trusted the most in the Mexican government. They called him "The Mexican Hoover," after John Edgar Hoover, the FBI’s first director. But soon, García Luna was facing accusations of corruption. In this episode, Peniley and Maria tell us exactly how far back those suspicions go as well as his obsessions, his childhood dreams, and how it all led to him heading the Mexican equivalents of the DEA, FBI, NSA and prison systems put together. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  4. Episode 3: By the Train Tracks in Queens

    EPISODE 3

    Episode 3: By the Train Tracks in Queens

    Peniley and Maria take a roadtrip to an unassuming warehouse in Queens. The location was once a front company for El Chapo’s Sinaloa cartel. Now, García Luna is accused of facilitating drugs to New York, as part of El Chapo’s business chain. Maria and Peniley learn that accusations of collaboration between El Chapo and García Luna date back to as early as 2001 – way before he was appointed as Secretary of Public Security. In this episode, we reveal how García Luna was able to climb the highest ranks of Mexican politics and how he managed to stay there without any accountability for so long. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
  5. Episode 4: Operation Miami

    EPISODE 4

    Episode 4: Operation Miami

    September 19, 2017 changed Peniley’s life. That morning, she found a picture that connected García Luna and two Mexican businessmen that Peniley had already been investigating. They had multimillion dollar contracts with the Mexican government. She emailed García Luna for a comment. Two minutes later, Mexico was hit with one of the worst earthquakes in its history. In this episode, we break down the scheme García Luna and his co-conspirators allegedly used to make themselves rich, and we explore the trauma journalists often experience while investigating a story for so long. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
  6. Episode 5: Dirty DEA

    EPISODE 5

    Episode 5: Dirty DEA

    In this season finale, María and Peniley pose one last question: Was García Luna a mastermind triple agent, or is there a systemic issue fostering corruption in the DEA? To find out, we zoom into the DEA’s role in the drug war and talk to an ex-DEA special agent and whistleblower. We also take a moment to remember the victims of the failed “war on drugs” and highlight their mothers’ efforts toward accountability and healing. Finally, Maria and Peniley take one more trip where they give us a final revelation – this time to the place where García Luna spends his days awaiting his day in court. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  7. Extra Episode: Trial Time

    EPISODE 5 BONUS

    Extra Episode: Trial Time

    The trial of Genaro García Luna starts January 17, and Maria and Peniley are back in the studio to explain everything you need to know before the trial begins. The prosecution and defense teams are already battling over how García Luna will be presented to the jury. Will the defense be allowed to exhibit evidence of his close relationship with the U.S. authorities? Will García Luna’s wealth in Miami be part of the New York case? To find out, follow Maria and Peniley as they cover the trial together. As usual, they’ll do it their style: toasting with tequila. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    10 min
  8. Episodio Extra: La hora del juicio

    EPISODE 5 BONUS

    Episodio Extra: La hora del juicio

    El juicio de Genaro García Luna en Nueva York comienza este 17 de enero. Mientras, fiscalía y defensa discuten cómo se le presentará ante el jurado. ¿El juez permitirá a la defensa mencionar que García Luna fue muy cercano a las autoridades de Estados Unidos? ¿Su fortuna en Miami será parte del juicio? Por primera vez en español, la periodista ganadora del premio Pulitzer María Hinojosa y la ganadora del premio Emmy Peniley Ramírez te cuentan todo lo que necesitas saber antes de que comience este juicio, mientras se alistan para cubrirlo. Lo hacen a su estilo: con un brindis y un tequila. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    12 min
See All Season 1 (30)

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4.7
out of 5
190 Ratings

About

A Mexican-American journalist and a Cuban-Mexican investigative reporter walk into a recording studio with a bottle of tequila and reveal one of the most shocking true crime investigative stories you will ever hear. From Futuro Investigates and Latino USA —in partnership with Lemonada Media—“USA v. García Luna” tells the story of the most powerful Mexican government official ever to face trial in the United States for his alleged ties to the infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. His name is Genaro García Luna. Maybe you've never heard about him, but in five episodes, Pulitzer Prize winner Maria Hinojosa and Emmy Award winner Peniley Ramírez will tell you why he matters and how his story connects to the U.S. government, the war on drugs and millions of dollars from U.S. taxpayers. This is not your regular narco series. It’s the result of a 10-year investigation and a shared journalistic obsession. We tackle corruption in the DEA, question how U.S. money funds the war on drugs and how Washington picks its allies. It gets deep, personal and absurd. It’s really like true crime meets telenovela. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

Information

  • Channel
    Lemonada
  • Creator
    Futuro Investigates
  • Episodes
    30
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Futuro Media Group
  • Show Website
    USA v. García Luna
  • Provider
    Lemonada Media Inc.

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