The U.S. Attorney's Office has attributed the murder of businessman Mauricio Schwartzman to Uruguayan Sebastián Marset, which occurred in Asunción in September 2021. According to U.S. court documents, Marset allegedly orchestrated the crime because he believed Schwartzman was cooperating with police authorities. The businessman was shot dead by hitmen in front of his home in the Jara neighborhood.
Marset, arrested in Bolivia since March of this year and later extradited to the United States, faces charges of narco-terrorism, money laundering, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He is identified as the leader of the First Uruguayan Cartel, an organization involved in criminal activities across several South American and European countries.
In addition to the Schwartzman case, Marset is accused of ordering terrorist attacks in Uruguay, including a grenade attack in the parking lot of the General Directorate for the Suppression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (DGRTID). He also allegedly threatened anti-drug prosecutor Mónica Ferrero and murdered members of his own organization on suspicion of betrayal.
If convicted, Marset could face up to 20 years in prison for money laundering, with the possibility of an increased sentence due to the new narco-terrorism charges. Sources suggest that a potential plea deal between Marset and the U.S. Attorney's Office was abandoned after the expansion of charges.