Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have charged several current and former Mexican government officials with conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel to import large amounts of drugs into the United States in exchange for bribes and political support. The current governor of the Mexican state of Sinalo, Rubén Rocha Moya, 76, and nine other high-ranking government and law enforcement figures have been indicted on multiple drug-trafficking and related weapons offenses. Their alleged cooperation with the cartel allowed them to carry out "brutal drug-related violence" with impunity, prosecutors said. The defendants allegedly received millions of dollars in drug money from the Cartel. The Mexican government has been praised for its assistance in the investigation. If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum of life imprisonment.