José Serrano faces multiple charges after deportation to Ecuador

Former Ecuadorian Minister José Serrano Salgado faces multiple judicial proceedings following his deportation from the United States to Ecuador on August 28, 2025. Serrano is implicated as a suspected intellectual author in the August 9, 2025, assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Prosecutors suggest Serrano may have provided police support to facilitate the attack.

In addition to the Villavicencio case, Serrano faces several other charges, including a failed 2012 kidnapping attempt of Fernando Balda in Colombia, bribery, irregular investments involving Isspol, and involvement in police transfers. Due to the accumulation of these crimes, he could face a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison.

Serrano’s family has raised concerns regarding his treatment at the El Encuentro maximum-security prison. His daughter, Verónica, reported that he has been incommunicado for seven days, preventing contact with family or legal counsel. His lawyer, Eduardo León, stated that attempts to deliver necessary medication to the facility were unsuccessful, and they have been unable to confirm Serrano's current health status.