Significant Indictments Unsealed Against Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Money Launderers
SAN DIEGO, CA – In a major crackdown on drug-related financial crimes, two federal grand jury indictments were unveiled today in San Diego against five alleged members of a notorious money laundering operation linked to the infamous Sinaloa Cartel. The charged individuals are Alberto David Benguiat Jimenez, Israel Daniel Paez Vargas, Salvador Diaz Rodriguez, Christopher Ortega-Lomeli, and Christian Noe Amador Valenzuela. All five remain fugitives as of this report.
A Comprehensive Operation: Major Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges
These indictments, originating in September and October of 2022, detail serious allegations against the defendants, including multiple counts of drug trafficking and money laundering. To date, investigations related to this operation have resulted in charges against 51 individuals and the seizure of over $4.1 million, alongside substantial quantities of illicit drugs:
1,304 kilograms of methamphetamine
34 kilograms of heroin
11 kilograms of cocaine
14 kilograms of fentanyl
Sinaloa Cartel Connection: A Global Threat
The Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has also targeted four of the defendants – Benguiat Jimenez, Paez Vargas, Diaz Rodriguez, and Amador Valenzuela – imposing sanctions due to their identified roles within a money laundering network that supports the Sinaloa Cartel. Officially recognized as one of the world's most violent drug trafficking organizations, the cartel is labeled a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
The Sinaloa Cartel is infamously linked to the significant influx of fentanyl and other lethal substances into the United States, exploiting various ports of entry along the southern border.
For more details, you can refer to the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in collaboration with the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement through the San Diego – Imperial County HIDTA, have been integral in pursuing these cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton, Joshua Mellor, Victor White, and Paul Benjamin are prosecuting these cases, with significant assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Owen Roth.
Details of the Defendants and Charges
Case Number: 22-cr-02386-TWR
Israel Daniel Paez Vargas (Age: 45, Mexicali, MX)
Charges:
Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances: Up to life in prison, with a $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances: Up to life in prison, with a $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments: Up to 20 years in prison, with a fine of $500,000 or equivalent value.
Case Number: 22-cr-02387-TWR
Alberto David Benguiat Jimenez (Age: 43, Mexico City)
Salvador Diaz Rodriguez (Age: 39, Mexicali)
Christian Noe Amador Valenzuela (Age: 36, Mexicali)
Christopher Ortega-Lomeli (Age: 38, Mexicali)
Charge:
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments: Up to 20 years in prison, with a fine of $500,000 or equivalent value.
Case Number: 22-cr-02185-BAS
Enrique Dann Esparragoza Rosas (Age: 39, Culiacan, MX)
Charges:
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments: Up to 20 years in prison, with a fine of $500,000 or equivalent value.
Hobbs Act Extortion: Up to 20 years in prison, with a $250,000 fine.
Ongoing Efforts Against Drug Trafficking
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a coordinated effort by the Department of Justice aimed at eliminating cartels and combatting violence linked to transnational criminal organizations. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) play a crucial role in identifying and dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.
For in-depth information on the OCDETF initiatives, visit the OCDETF Program.
Conclusion: Fighting the Drug Trafficking Crisis
The efforts by federal agencies serve a dual purpose: to dismantle the financial lifelines of drug trafficking organizations and to protect communities from the pervasive threat of violence and illegal substance trafficking. As these cases unfold, investigators remain vigilant in their pursuit of justice, ensuring that those accused are held accountable for their alleged crimes.
Note: The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
