Mexican television presenter Inés Gómez Mont has been arrested in Miami, Florida, over allegations linking her to a $146 million tax fraud and money laundering scheme.
The 43-year-old mother of six was detained by US authorities on October 30, following five years of efforts by Mexican authorities to locate her and her husband, lawyer Víctor Manuel Álvarez Puga.
Gómez Mont is accused of involvement in organized crime, money laundering, transactions involving illicit funds and tax fraud.
She has repeatedly denied the allegations, maintaining that she has committed no crime.
Photographs released following her arrest showed the television personality wearing a blue mini skirt, white cropped top and sneakers, with handcuffs around her wrists as two officers escorted her.
Arrest Follows Mexican Investigation Dating Back to 2021
The arrest comes after a Mexican federal judge issued warrants for Gómez Mont and Álvarez Puga in September 2021.
The couple had left Mexico with their children before authorities could take them into custody.
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office subsequently sought Interpol’s assistance, requesting international red notices to help locate the pair and facilitate their extradition.
However, Interpol controversially withdrew the international notices against the couple in September this year.
The decision attracted criticism from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, although the domestic arrest warrants remained in force.
Gómez Mont had continued living in Miami despite the outstanding warrants until her detention by US authorities.
She is currently being held in the United States while immigration proceedings and formal extradition requests are pending.
Authorities Allege $146 Million Was Diverted Through Shell Companies
According to Mexican investigators, Gómez Mont and her husband allegedly participated in a scheme involving approximately 3 billion pesos, equivalent to around $146 million, in public funds.
The allegations centre on two contracts obtained in 2016 from Mexico’s Ministry of Interior through a company called Inteligencia Cibernética.
The contracts required the company to supply security systems to seven prisons located in Sonora, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Durango, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Morelos.
However, the Attorney General’s Office alleged that the promised equipment was never delivered to the correctional facilities.
In a court document, prosecutors claimed that government officials illegally diverted the contract funds to the company instead of using the money to improve prison security.
Investigation Identifies Network of 1,500 Banking Transactions
Investigators allege that money connected to the contracts was transferred through approximately 1,500 banking operations.
Inteligencia Cibernética allegedly relied on seven additional companies to move and conceal the funds.
The businesses identified by prosecutors were Arromlop, Rancel, Modeno, Comcelint, Gupea and Tangamanga, alongside transactions involving an individual.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the companies generated invoices for services that were never provided between September 2016 and 2017 as part of the alleged money laundering operation.
Gómez Mont and Álvarez Puga could face between 20 and 60 years in prison each if convicted of the charges.
Television Star Previously Rejected All Allegations
Gómez Mont publicly addressed the accusations in September 2021 through a statement shared with her approximately 2.5 million Instagram followers.
She said she had remained silent for several days while trying to understand the allegations and concentrate on preparing her defence.
Although she acknowledged that authorities were accusing her of receiving money connected to two public contracts worth approximately 3 billion pesos, she insisted that the claims were false.
She stated that she had never stolen money, received proceeds from the contracts or belonged to an organised criminal group.
The presenter also described herself as a full-time mother and television host, insisting that she had never possessed or handled the amount of money mentioned in the investigation.
Husband Was Previously Detained by US Immigration Authorities
Gómez Mont’s husband, Víctor Manuel Álvarez Puga, was previously detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Miami in 2025.
Álvarez Puga has been associated with the nickname ‘King of the Invoice Mills’ amid allegations surrounding the use of companies to generate fraudulent invoices.
The couple have two children together, while Gómez Mont has four additional children from her previous marriage to Javier Díaz.
Before leaving Mexico, she told her Instagram followers that her family was preparing to face the legal proceedings and exercise all their rights.
Gómez Mont’s Television Career and Famous Tom Brady Proposal
Gómez Mont began her entertainment career as an actress, making her debut in the 1997 telenovela Tric Trac.
She joined Mexican multimedia company TV Azteca in 2002 and became the presenter of Los 25+ in 2004.
One of her most memorable television appearances came during the 2008 Super Bowl media day, when she approached NFL quarterback Tom Brady wearing a wedding dress and proposed to him during a press conference.
After Brady called on her to ask a question, she declared her love for him and asked him to marry her.
Brady responded by complimenting her appearance and name before explaining that he was a one-woman man.
He also told her that any man who had the opportunity to marry her would be fortunate.
The television personality’s arrest in Miami marks a new development in the Mexican authorities’ five-year pursuit of her and her husband over the alleged financial crimes.
