Juan Alberto Cardona Henao Sentenced for Corruption in Medellin Scandal

Condena de Juan Alberto Cardona Henao por falsificación de documentos

The sentencing, handed down by the 28th Criminal Circuit Court of Medellín with Functions of Knowledge, followed the court’s approval of a pre-agreement reached between the defendant and the Prosecutor’s Office. During judicial proceedings, which began at 8:00 a.m., Cardona Henao accepted his responsibility for the crime of falsehood in a private document, in a homogeneous and successive concurrence. He admitted to elaborating and utilizing at least 15 false documents, including collection accounts and documentary supports, to facilitate the disbursement of public resources for goods or services that were never actually provided.

Investigación de la Unidad para Delitos contra la Administración Pública

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation—conducted by a prosecutor from the Unit for Crimes against the Public Administration of the Medellín Section—established that between November 30, 2020, and December 30, 2022, the defendant subscribed to these 15 false documents to credit the alleged provision of transport services. The Prosecutor’s Office stated in a communiqué: The evidence presented by the Attorney General’s Office allowed the former treasurer of the Itagüí Fire Department, Juan Alberto Cardona Henao, to accept through a pre-agreement his responsibility in the issuance of irregular documents to authorize the disbursement of resources during the execution of several contracts signed with the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley.

The financial impact of this specific fraudulent mechanism, as identified by the Prosecutor’s Office, resulted in a patrimonial detriment to the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley exceeding COP 120 million. The irregularities identified in the probe included collection accounts with falsified signatures, charges for services that were never rendered, and supporting documentation dated for periods when the individuals supposedly providing the services were out of the country. The court has scheduled the formal reading of the full sentence for August 20.

Veeduría Todos Por Medellín y el escándalo de contratos

This case is considered one of the most sensitive corruption investigations currently advancing through the justice system. The scandal involving contracts between the Metropolitan Area and the Itagüí Volunteer Firefighters first gained public attention in 2021, when citizen organizations, such as the Veeduría Todos Por Medellín, alerted authorities to alleged irregularities regarding the purchase of kits and training sessions imparted by the Itagüí Firefighters, which were financed by the entity.

Imputación de Miguel Andrés Quintero Calle

The scope of the ongoing judicial investigation covers the contracting carried out by the Metropolitan Area between 2020 and 2023. During this period, the entity was under the direction of Juan David Palacio, who was postulated for the role by then-Mayor Daniel Quintero. Palacio is currently among those charged in the case. Furthermore, the investigation is set to expand, as Miguel Andrés Quintero Calle, the brother of the former mayor, is also slated for an upcoming indictment hearing.

For the Prosecutor’s Office, the information provided by Cardona Henao is considered key. Investigators believe that the falsifications were not isolated incidents but part of a sophisticated system used to drain the coffers of the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley during the previous government period. By creating a paper trail of fraudulent invoices, the participants successfully provided an appearance of legality to the disbursement of millions in public resources. As the legal process continues, the testimony and evidence provided by individuals like Cardona Henao, who have opted to collaborate with the justice system, remain central to the state’s efforts to clarify the full extent of the alleged corruption.