Q COSTARICA — The United States will have two months to transfer to its territory Celso Manuel Gamboa Sánchez, Edwin Danney López Vega, alias Pecho de Rata, and Jonathan Guillermo Álvarez Alfaro, alias Gato or Profe, the first three Costa Ricans approved for extradition to that country.
The extradition granted by the San José Criminal Court for the three Costa Ricans can only be handed over to U.S. justice when the six criminal cases they face in Costa Rica conclude, either because the Public Prosecutor’s Office withdraws its appeal or because a judge issues a conviction or acquittal.
The comprehensive resolution that upheld the East Texas Court’s request establishes that once the cases in Costa Rica are finished, the extraditables will be handed over to U.S. authorities. They will be notified and then have two months to comply; if they don’t, they will be released.
The time hasn’t started yet because we need to wait for the defense’s appeal decision.
The court ruling details that this period will be calculated from the moment the United States Government formally receives notice that the extraditables GAMBOA SÁNCHEZ, LÓPEZ VEGA, and ÁLVAREZ ALFARO are at its disposal with a final resolution and that the proceedings against them in Costa Rica have been concluded.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office must immediately inform the San José Criminal Court when the criminal prosecution of the aforementioned cases has ceased.”
In other words, Gamboa, López, and Álvarez are not yet in the custody of US authorities, but are in a transitional phase while the appeals are processed and the judicial status of the pending cases in Costa Rica is resolved.
When everything is final, the Attorney General’s Office must notify the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to carry out the transfer within eight weeks. The start of the period will vary depending on the individual extraditable.
The court ruling also provides that the requesting State must dispose of the extraditables within two months following the finality of this resolution, starting from the moment it is notified that the defendant is at its disposal. Failure to do so within this time will result in the release of the requested individuals without liability on the part of this Court, with the requesting State assuming any liability that may arise from the provisional detention.
After the established criminal procedures have been completed and the finality of the sentence has been reached, the extraditables will be handed over to the immigration authorities, and they, in turn, will be handed over to the international authorities of the Government of the United States of America individually.
Jonathan Guillermo Álvarez Alfaro would be the first of the three to be handed over to the U.S., given that Gamboa and López still have pending trials that are blocking their extradition.
The businessman, based south of San José and linked to money laundering, faces only one criminal case for money laundering.
The most complex case is that of Celso Gamboa, a former judge and minister, who faces two criminal charges. The Attorney General’s Office is seeking to expedite these proceedings through abbreviated proceedings, a mechanism that allows the accused to accept the facts in exchange for a reduced sentence.
However, this option requires Gamboa’s willingness, as it would imply admitting his guilt. If he decides to appeal or continue with the regular process, the deferred extradition could take years, depending on any appeals or cassation proceedings.
In the case of Edwin Danney López Vega, he faces two money laundering cases: one scheduled for trial in the Criminal Court of the First Judicial Circuit of Limón, Bribrí headquarters, scheduled for May 11-29, 2026); and another under investigation, stemming from a recent arrest with a large amount of cash. The second could be resolved more quickly, which would allow the Prosecutor’s Office to apply a timeliness criterion so as not to hinder the extradition.
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