Israel Vallarta is acquitted after 20 years in prison without a sentence.

MEXICO CITY (apro).- After 20 years in prison without sentencing, a federal judge ordered the immediate release of Israel Vallarta Cisneros, considering that the Attorney General's Office (FGR) failed to prove his responsibility in the kidnapping of six people and his leadership of the Zodiacs.

Mariana Vieyra Valdez, head of the Third District Criminal Court based in Toluca, State of Mexico, yesterday acquitted Vallarta Cisneros of kidnapping six people.

This is due to the fact that the Attorney General's Office (FGR) failed to provide evidence to prove his involvement in organized crime, including kidnapping, carrying and possessing a firearm, and possessing ammunition exclusively for the Army.

Federal sources reported that the ruling was notified last night around 10:30 p.m., but they have not yet received the full ruling to understand the judge's arguments.

Therefore, Vallarta Cisneros is expected to leave the Federal Social Rehabilitation Center (Cefereso) No. 1 "El Altiplano" in the next few hours, where he has been held in preventive detention since December 2005.

Currently, Israel Vallarta has no other outstanding legal proceedings or arrest warrants, however, the process for his release could take up to 24 hours.

The case of Israel Vallarta is well-known because on December 9, 2005, he was arrested along with his then-partner, Frenchwoman Florence Cassez, in a televised operation staged as part of the media strategy of former federal Secretary of Public Security, Genaro García Luna.

On January 23, 2013, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) ordered Cassez's release due to due process violations, finding that the arrest of both men was part of a television set-up orchestrated by the now-defunct Federal Investigation Agency (AFI).

The Court's ruling did not imply a pronouncement on the Frenchwoman's innocence or guilt, and the ministers' arguments have since been taken up separately by Vallarta Cisneros in an attempt, without success, to achieve the same result.