Prosecutor links Serrano, Jordán, Aleaga, and Salcedo to planning and financing the murder of the presidential candidate.

The indictment begins

On Wednesday morning, Judge María Daniela Ayala opened the long-delayed hearing to file charges in the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, the presidential candidate gunned down on August 9, 2023. Prosecutor Ana Hidalgo presented her theory of the case, accusing four men—former Interior Minister José Serrano, businessman Xavier Jordán, ex-legislator Ronny Aleaga, and convicted fraudster Daniel Salcedo—of orchestrating the crime.

The prosecutor argued that the killing was not the work of hired hitmen alone, but a coordinated operation financed and planned by political and criminal networks. She requested preventive detention for all four suspects, noting that fugitives Jordán and Aleaga are already wanted in other cases and that Serrano’s immigration detention in Miami may soon shift into criminal custody if he is deported.

An FBI-linked confession

One of the most explosive revelations came from an FBI interview conducted in 2023. A Colombian hitman, later murdered in prison, reportedly told a U.S. agent that “the job was for the man upstairs”—explaining that the nickname referred to Rafael Correa. Although the statement cannot be tested in court because the witness was killed, Hidalgo cited it as evidence of the political backing that prosecutors believe lay behind the assassination.

Another protected witness told investigators that the killing was arranged for $200,000 and carried out with the knowledge of Correa-era officials. Salcedo himself has testified that drug lord Leandro Norero instructed him to track Villavicencio’s movements, passing information to Jordán and Serrano, who allegedly coordinated surveillance and funding.

Alleged roles in the crime

According to the prosecution:

• Xavier Jordán financed the plot and contracted the hitmen through intermediaries, even after Norero’s death.
• Ronny Aleaga acted as the political link, reassuring collaborators that the plan remained active and sending Glas’s lawyer to pressure Salcedo into silence.
• José Serrano allegedly supplied police intelligence on Villavicencio’s security and coordinated with the others from the United States.
• Daniel Salcedo admitted to organizing trackers who mapped Villavicencio’s daily routines, claiming he received $20,000 for the work.

Serrano’s fate tied to Miami court

Of the four, Serrano’s legal future appears most precarious. Detained since August in a Miami immigration facility, he faces hearings on September 11 for bail and asylum. If Ecuadorian prosecutors secure a pretrial detention order, U.S. authorities could use it to justify deportation, ensuring Serrano’s immediate arrest upon arrival in Quito.

Salcedo remains imprisoned in Ecuador, while Jordán and Aleaga are fugitives abroad. Prosecutors have asked Interpol to issue red notices for their capture.

Victims under protection

Before the hearing, Villavicencio’s daughters Amanda and Tamia announced they had entered the Prosecutor’s witness protection program after filing harassment complaints against Jordán. Police units surrounded the Northern Judicial Complex in Quito as the proceedings began, underscoring the sensitivity of the case.

For the next 90 days, investigators will attempt to unravel the layers of political, criminal, and financial networks that converged in the killing of a candidate who campaigned on fighting corruption and organized crime. The court’s rulings in the coming weeks could shape not only the pursuit of justice for Villavicencio but also the future of some of the most prominent figures linked to Ecuador’s recent political history.