Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya faces a U.S. indictment unsealed in April 2026 on charges of conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel faction known as Los Chapitos to facilitate drug trafficking in exchange for political protection and electoral support. Mexican authorities, including the Fiscalía General de la República, concluded their parallel investigation in August 2026 without finding sufficient evidence to support criminal charges under domestic law, allowing Rocha to briefly resume office before requesting a second indefinite leave approved by the state Congress. As of mid-October 2026, Rocha has appeared before the FGR in Culiacán, lost constitutional immunity after stepping aside, and remains in Sinaloa under institutional security while denying wrongdoing and pledging further cooperation. Trader sentiment reflects the gap between the active U.S. case and Mexico’s domestic clearance, alongside political dynamics involving President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration and opposition calls for accountability, with any arrest hinging on potential extradition proceedings or renewed Mexican action.