Munguía Payés was arrested on 23 July 2020 for allegedly negotiating a truce with the prominent gangs Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street gang (Barrio 18) during his term.[6][7] A judge later ordered him to be placed under house arrest.[8][9][10] In October 2020, eight properties worth 1.4 million dollars were confiscated from Munguía Payés by the Salvadoran government due to tax investigations indicating that they may have been attained through illegal activities.[11]
His criminal trial began on 26 April 2023. On 29 May 2023, he was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment (8 years for illicit association, 6 years for failure to perform his duties, and 4 years for committing arbitrary actions).[12] On 17 June 2023, the office of the attorney general began proceedings to charge Munguía for alleged the money laundering and illicit enrichment of US$1,147,650 during Funes' presidency.[13] On 24 August 2023, the office of the attorney general ordered Munguía Payés to pay US$462,732.81 to the state.[14]
^"Galeria Ex-directores" [Gallery of Ex-Directors]. Escuela Militar (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
^ ab"Exministros de Defensa" [Ex-Ministers of Defense]. Ministerio de la Defensa Nacional. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.