Ricardo Thompson granted house arrest in fuel fraud case

Ricardo Thompson Navarro, a business partner of former Baja California Governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel in the company Ingemar, has been granted house arrest in Ensenada, Baja California. A judge from the Federal Criminal Justice Center of Almoloya de Juárez modified his precautionary measure, transitioning him from the Altiplano maximum-security prison to home confinement to continue his legal process.

Thompson faces charges including organized crime, smuggling, and hydrocarbon-related offenses. The investigation centers on ‘huachicol fiscal’—tax fuel fraud—involving the irregular entry of fuel into Mexico via rail tanks. The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) is investigating Ingemar for its role in a suspected network importing fuel from the United States. Records indicate that in 2025, the company reported importing 2,137 million liters of petroleum products.

Thompson is one of at least four defendants in this case to receive house arrest, joining Ruffo, who was transferred to his Ensenada residence in late September, as well as José María de la Peña Ramos and Guillermo de la Peña Rosales.