Manfredo Martin-Michael Madrigal, a former Army Ranger turned lawyer, has been sentenced to over four years in prison after being found guilty of misleading authorities about his interactions with a Russian embassy and for deleting military training materials from a computer.
Background and Allegations
At just 38, Madrigal faced additional allegations of harassment involving two former partners who were potential witnesses in his case.
One of the women reported that he had sent her a hurtful email, showing his regret over her struggles after he accessed an app she used, revealing she wasn’t pregnant.
On July 16, 2024, Madrigal accepted a plea agreement, and during his sentencing on Thursday, the Department of Justice announced the outcome.
The harassment charges—including cyberstalking and witness tampering—were dropped during these proceedings.
Military Career and Legal Issues
Despite attempts from Task & Purpose, Madrigal’s lawyers have not responded to requests for comment.
Before embarking on his legal journey in 2019, Madrigal served in combat as an infantry soldier and non-commissioned officer in the prestigious 75th Ranger Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division.
Court records show his involvement in multiple overseas tours.
Task & Purpose sought to confirm details about his military service, but reliable responses weren’t available.
However, a military photo archive identifies him as a sergeant in the 82nd Airborne from 2014.
Madrigal earned his law degree and a Master’s in Homeland Security from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2019, gaining admission to the Missouri State Bar a year later.
By 2022, he held a position at the Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he was involved in creating training materials.
During this time, he filmed himself erasing an online interactive module for national security law, making comments that expressed his feelings of betrayal and his refusal to be overlooked.
He asserted that no one could take away his knowledge.
Investigation and Consequences
While engaged in these actions, Madrigal communicated with a former partner, boasting about his influence and hinting that he aimed to demonstrate control over the organization.
His troubles escalated when a federal investigation unfolded in early 2022, already amidst scrutiny from the Army and the JAG School for failing to report a DUI arrest prior to his assignment with JAG.
After he deleted military files, Madrigal left the Army, incorrectly stating in his exit paperwork that he had not met with any foreign nationals.
However, investigators discovered that he had indeed sought contact with the Russian embassy in Washington D.C. and had shared this with past partners.
When questioned by the FBI, he denied both deleting files and engaging with the embassy.
Nevertheless, FBI evidence revealed that he made a two-minute phone call to the embassy around the same time he deleted the files.
The investigation relied heavily on his past relationships to verify his misleading claims, which also included allegations of abusive behavior.
One former partner described enduring emotional abuse and intimidation from Madrigal throughout 2021 and 2022.
In a particularly alarming incident in December 2021, he showed up at her home uninvited, threatening to harm himself following an argument.
After a confrontation, she left but not before Madrigal took some of her belongings and acted in ways that raised concerns about her pet’s safety.
Another ex-girlfriend reported threats involving a weapon.
This second partner told the FBI that she suspected Madrigal manipulated her participation as a witness, including coaching her on how to respond during her interview.
In summary, Madrigal’s case reveals a troubling pattern of behavior—spanning professional misconduct to personal abuse—that ultimately led to serious criminal charges and a substantial prison sentence.
Source: Taskandpurpose