A Colombian court sentenced Juan Carlos Martínez Rodríguez, the right-hand man of the late liberal senator Mario Castaño, to five years and two months in prison for his participation in the 'Las Marionetas' corruption case, which directed public contracting from Congress in several departments of the country. ^[1] A specialized criminal judge in Bogotá sentenced Juan Carlos Martínez Rodríguez to 62 months in prison for his participation in a corruption network orchestrated by the late Senator Mario Alberto Castaño Pérez. ^[2] According to Colombia's Prosecutor's Office, Juan Carlos Martínez Rodríguez, who was part of Mario Castaño's Legislative Work Unit (UTL), intervened in project management before state entities, the selection of contractors and the allocation of budgets for works in municipalities of political interest. ^[3] Martínez Rodríguez was declared responsible for the crimes of criminal conspiracy, undue interest in the celebration of contracts, embezzlement by appropriation, falsity in a private document and destruction of material evidence. ^[4] The sentence against Juan Carlos Martínez Rodríguez came as part of a pre-agreement he made with Colombia's Prosecutor's Office (Fiscalía). ^[5] Martínez maintained communication with mayors and officials to manage the awarding of projects to specific individuals and placed his bank accounts at the disposal to collect and administer illicitly appropriated funds in contractual processes. ^[6] Martínez Rodríguez, a member of the Legislative Work Unit (UTL) of the late Senator Mario Castaño Pérez, intervened in the management of public projects, contractor selection, and budget allocation for works in politically interested municipalities. ^[7] The convicted individual has returned 415 million pesos and must return an additional 350 million pesos, totaling the money received for his illegal mediation in the corruption network. ^[8]