Tamaulipas food contract scandal erupts in corruption and forgery claims

A legal battle over a cancelled food distribution contract in Tamaulipas has taken a dramatic turn. Israel Valdez Sánchez, a businessman, initially won a court ruling against the state after his deal was terminated. Now, new allegations of corruption and forgery have surfaced, further complicating the case. In late 2022, Felipe Salinas Mansur approached Valdez Sánchez with a proposal. The contract involved procuring and distributing food baskets for the Tamaulipas Welfare Secretariat (SEBIEN). Meetings followed with officials Samuel Badillo and Alejandra Félix to finalise details.

The formal request came soon after: SEBIEN asked Valdez Sánchez’s company to bid on distributing 1,708,490 food baskets across Tamaulipas. His firm submitted the winning proposal in February 2023, and the contract was awarded the next month. Distribution was set for the second quarter of that year.

Before work began, Salinas Mansur warned Valdez Sánchez about hidden demands. He claimed Américo Villarreal Santiago, the governor’s son, wanted an 80 million peso kickback. An extra 30 million pesos was also requested for election operations. Despite this, Valdez Sánchez proceeded with preparations.

Then, without warning, his contract was terminated. He took legal action and won a ruling in January 2025, forcing the state to pay nearly 500 million pesos in damages. But officials refused to accept the decision. Jorge Luis Beas Gómez, undersecretary of legality, even offered Valdez Sánchez new contracts if he dropped the lawsuit. He declined.

The case took another twist when the Tamaulipas Administrative Justice Tribunal reversed its earlier decision. Authorities now accuse Valdez Sánchez of forging and altering signatures on key documents. The dispute remains unresolved, with both sides standing firm. Valdez Sánchez insists the contract was unfairly cancelled, while officials push back with claims of fraud. The outcome will determine whether he receives the awarded damages—or faces further legal consequences.