Designations of Former Ecuadorian Officials for Involvement in Significant Corruption Linked to Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The United States is exposing corruption at the highest levels of Ecuador's justice system. The Department of State is publicly designating seven former Ecuadorian officials for their involvement in significant corruption linked to Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) designated by the Trump Administration last year. These actions render all seven individuals and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States.

Pablo Ramírez Erazo, former director of Ecuador's Prison Authority; Wilman Terán Carillo, former judge on Ecuador's National Court of Justice; and Ronaldo Xavier Guerrero Cruz, former criminal judge on Ecuador's Judicial Council, each significantly abused their former government positions by accepting bribes from gangs linked to narco-terrorist organizations. In exchange for bribes, these officials interfered with judicial, electoral, or public processes on behalf of Ecuadorian gangs linked to designated FTOs Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Los Choneros, and Los Lobos.

Pablo Bolívar Muentes Alarcón, former member of the Ecuadorian National Assembly; María Fabiola Gallardo Ramia, former President of the Guayas Provincial Court; Johann Marfetán Medina, former criminal judge of the Guayas Provincial Court; and Mayra Carolina Salazar Merchán, former public relations officer of the Guayas Provincial Court, each abused their former public positions by accepting bribes in exchange for interfering with judicial processes to benefit narco-terrorist organizations like Los Choneros and the Sinaloa Cartel, and their criminal facilitators.

The former Ecuadorian officials' actions constituted significant corruption and had serious adverse effects on the security of the United States, fueling drug trafficking and poisoning American communities. The United States will continue using every available tool to protect our country and deny entry to narco-terrorists, their corrupt facilitators, and their immediate family members. To any foreign officials corruptly abusing their public position for personal financial gain: the United States will find you and expose you.

These public designations are made under the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 (Div. F, P.L. 119-75)("Section 7031(c)"). Section 7031(c) requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate foreign officials and their immediate family members about whom the Secretary has credible information of involvement in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights.

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