Juan Francisco Sandoval is a Guatemalan lawyer, former prosecutor, professor, and holds a master’s degree in Criminal Procedural Law. In December 2021, he joined DPLF as a visiting professional, providing support to the Judicial Independence program. In this role, he engages with a broad array of issues, including participation in high-profile investigations, defense of prosecutorial autonomy, and active collaboration in the analysis of policies and legal reforms aimed at improving the integrity and effectiveness of justice systems in Latin America.
Before joining DPLF, Juan Francisco spent over 15 years serving in various prosecutorial positions within the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Guatemala, addressing issues related to organized crime, constitutional matters, and the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI). During this time, he held numerous roles, starting as an intern and moving through the ranks as assistant prosecutor I and II, prosecutor, and section head.
His decade-long tenure at FECI involved working closely with the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), where he led investigations into the most significant corruption cases in the country’s history. These investigations uncovered and prosecuted illicit political-economic networks, leading to the indictment of three former presidents, a vice president, ministers, public servants, and business leaders, among others. He is currently residing in the United States as an exiled justice operator, facing political persecution due to his investigations into networks influencing the Guatemalan state.
Juan Francisco has a distinguished record in promoting and defending judicial independence and fighting corruption in Latin America. His commitment to transparency, justice, and strengthening democratic institutions has made a significant impact in the region. He has been recognized both domestically and internationally, including being awarded the International Anti-Corruption Champion Award by the U.S. Department of State in February 2021.
In addition to his work in defending judicial independence, Juan Francisco is also a professor at Mariano Gálvez University in Guatemala, where he serves as a full-time professor of Criminal Procedural Law, advisor and reviewer of graduation theses, and evaluator of professional technical exams.
Juan Francisco earned his law degree from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala in 2006, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Legal and Social Sciences, along with the professional titles of lawyer and notary. He also specialized in Criminal Law at the university’s graduate school.
