Mendoza inmates transferred after illegal livestream with influencer

Valentín Melo Mendoza prison livestream cell phone ban high‑security transfer Mercedes Rus

A live video call on the OmeTV platform connected Argentine influencer Valentín Melo with five inmates from the San Felipe prison in Mendoza. The inmates used prohibited cell phones during the broadcast, which was captured and spread on social media.

Mendoza’s Ministry of Security and Justice opened administrative, disciplinary and judicial investigations, seized the five phones and moved the prisoners to the high‑security MAP (Módulo de Alojamiento de Muy Alto Perfil) unit at the Almafuerte I complex in Cacheuta. Minister Mercedes Rus confirmed the transfer and warned that any breach of the cell‑phone ban – established by a 2012 provincial law and a 2017 national law requiring signal‑jammers – will result in loss of benefits and stricter confinement.

The case highlights ongoing challenges in preventing contraband devices in Argentine prisons and has prompted renewed enforcement of existing regulations.

Entities: Almafuerte I (Cacheuta) · Mendoza Ministry of Security and Justice · Mendoza Province · Mercedes Rus · Ministry of Security of Mendoza · OmeTV · San Felipe prison · Valentín Melo

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] Five inmates participated in a livestream with influencer Valentín Melo from San Felipe prison. (45a525fa-d57c-428a-86ec-782baa13ab2b, 197e4e7f-20df-4655-bdbb-e0e2590924dd, 447e744c-79c5-443e-8a02-012dd85ae008, fc645d)
[● 4 SOURCES] An administrative, disciplinary and judicial investigation was launched after the livestream was discovered. (45a525fa-d57c-428a-86ec-782baa13ab2b, 197e4e7f-20df-4655-bdbb-e0e2590924dd, cf101d68-5882-4d17-b276-575d554fce94, fc645d)
[● 3 SOURCES] The livestream used the OmeTV platform. (45a525fa-d57c-428a-86ec-782baa13ab2b, 197e4e7f-20df-4655-bdbb-e0e2590924dd, 447e744c-79c5-443e-8a02-012dd85ae008)
[● 4 SOURCES] Authorities seized five cell phones from the inmates. (45a525fa-d57c-428a-86ec-782baa13ab2b, 197e4e7f-20df-4655-bdbb-e0e2590924dd, cf101d68-5882-4d17-b276-575d554fce94, b3aa81)
[● 2 SOURCES] Mendoza law of 2012 and the 2017 national law prohibit cell phones in prisons and require signal‑jammers. (45a525fa-d57c-428a-86ec-782baa13ab2b, 49775483-0176-4623-b608-c8918d0c924e)
[● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Security and Justice of Mendoza transferred the inmates to the MAP unit at Almafuerte I in Cacheuta. (cf101d68-5882-4d17-b276-575d554fce94, b3aa81e3-86ef-4991-bc6f-5b74997b153a, fc645da9-b0ed-4c1a-826a-192e03b6f761)
[● 4 SOURCES] The inmates possessed prohibited cell phones during the livestream. (45a525fa-d57c-428a-86ec-782baa13ab2b, 197e4e7f-20df-4655-bdbb-e0e2590924dd, cf101d68-5882-4d17-b276-575d554fce94, b3aa81)
[● 3 SOURCES] Minister Mercedes Rus announced the transfer and warned of sanctions for breaching the cell‑phone ban. (cf101d68-5882-4d17-b276-575d554fce94, b3aa81e3-86ef-4991-bc6f-5b74997b153a, fc645da9-b0ed-4c1a-826a-192e03b6f761)