The Department of Justice on Aug. 14 charged five high-ranking members of the Mexican Carteles Unidos (United cartels) drug gang. The Treasury Department is also imposing sanctions on the cartel, which it accused of engaging in “violent activities.”
In a Thursday press release, the Justice Department said it was charging Juan Jose Farias Alvarez (“El Abuelo”), Alfonso Fernandez Magallon (“Poncho”), Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez (“Wicho / R5”), Edgar Orozco Cabadas (“El Kamoni”), and Nicolas Sierra Santana (“El Gordo”).
“Today’s charges are designed to dismantle the United Cartels and bring their leaders to justice for unleashing death and destruction on American citizens,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “Working closely with our partners throughout President Trump’s Administration, we will continue our historic effort to destroy foreign terror organizations and prosecute terrorists wherever they may hide.”
The Treasury Department said its Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning United cartels, another Mexican cartel, Los Viagras, and seven affiliated individuals accused of terrorism, drug trafficking, and extortion in Mexico’s agriculture sector.
“Today’s sanctions action draws further attention to the diverse, insidious ways the cartels engage in violent activities and exploit otherwise legitimate commerce,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “Treasury, alongside our partners in U.S. law enforcement, will continue to target every effort by the cartels to generate revenue for their violent, criminal schemes.”
Justice Department court documents say the United cartels is a transnational criminal and drug trafficking organization controlling large areas of Michoacán, Mexico, where it operates as an umbrella organization for several Michoacán-based cartels to “acquire, manufacture, and distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine for smuggling into the United States.”
“Profits from U.S. drug sales are allegedly used to acquire heavy weaponry, hire mercenaries, bribe local officials, and fund lavish lifestyles for cartel leaders,” the agency said.
United cartels is accused of being the “most prolific methamphetamine producer” with multiple tons generated monthly. The cartel’s distribution network stretches throughout the United States, with hubs in cities like Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City (Mo.), Sacramento, California, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago.
The Justice Department said the network also extends to Europe, Australia, and other regions worldwide.
On Feb. 20, the State Department designated United cartels as both a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated global terrorist group.
Alvarez served as the top leader of the cartel, directing and overseeing the importation of large shipments of cocaine from Colombia to the United States through air and sea routes, court filings allege. He also allegedly collected fees from methamphetamine and fentanyl producers operating in his territory.
All five defendants are accused of participating in a decades-long conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, to be illegally imported into the United States.
Alvarez, Magallon, and Chavez also allegedly “carried, brandished, or discharged firearms, including semi-automatic weapons, machine guns, and destructive devices during and in relation to the alleged drug trafficking crimes charged in their indictments,” the Justice Department said.
The five defendants, who are currently fugitives, face maximum penalties of life in prison if arrested and convicted.
“Today’s reward offers complement the Department of Justice’s indictments of the rewards targets in the District of Columbia and Eastern District of Tennessee,” the State Department said in a news release.
