The First Criminal Chamber of Resistencia sentenced social leader Carlos Iván Barraza to ten years in prison for fraud against public administration and embezzlement. The ruling, issued on December 5, 2025, also ordered investigations into former officials and social leaders for irregularities in handling funds and state resources between 2022 and 2023. The sentence includes asset forfeiture and opens nine related lines of inquiry.
On December 5, 2025, the First Criminal Chamber of Resistencia, composed of judges Glenda Vidarte de Sánchez Dansey, Natalia María Luz Kuray, and Julieta Noemí Dansey, issued a sentence against Carlos Iván Barraza, a piquetero leader and 2023 pre-candidate for mayor of Resistencia on Jorge Capitanich's list. Barraza was sentenced to ten years of effective imprisonment, absolute and perpetual disqualification from public office, and the definitive forfeiture of all seized assets, including vehicles, construction materials, a boat, IAFEP invoices, and state documents. The recovered money will be transferred to the Provincial Treasury.
The proven offenses, fraud against public administration and embezzlement, were based on material, testimonial, and expert evidence revealing a scheme of state resource diversion between 2022 and 2023. During the verdict reading, Barraza applauded from the bench and had previously made defiant gestures to photographers. Prosecutor Sergio Cáceres Olivera represented the Public Ministry, and Nicolás Diez, president of SAMEEP, acted for the complaint.
The ruling extended beyond Barraza: it ordered nine investigations to the Public Prosecutor's Office for alleged irregularities. These include IAFEP fund management under Carlos Mauricio “Mauro” Andión and Laura Moreno, who delivered resources to unqualified beneficiaries, per the judicial quote: “Correr vista al equipo fiscal a fin de investigar la presunta responsabilidad en la disposición de fondos estatales durante los años 2022 y 2023, mencionándose a Carlos Mauricio Andión y Laura Moreno.”
Other lines cover irregular land and housing allocations in Villa Barberán (Ushuaia Street and Pasaje Villa Carlos Paz), linked to Asociación Civil Humildad, with responsibilities in the Secretariat of Territorial Planning and IPDUV for lack of controls on RUBH and constructions. In SAMEEP, the omission of oversight on Barraza and his circle will be probed, including irregular staff use and coercion. Additionally, Romina Palacios and Walter Ramírez will be investigated for fund use in social movements, and Nicolás Sisi, Jonathan Barraza, Andrea Barraza, Cristian Barraza, Mónica Romero, and José René Galasi for labor schemes like undue overtime and official vehicle use. Finally, Gustavo Ariel Brites faces inquiry for alleged false testimony.
These offshoots map responsibilities among ex-officials from Capitanich's administration and provincial bodies, broadening scrutiny of the public resource circuit lacking proper controls.