Sinaloa Cartel Member Indicted in Chicago for Drug Trafficking
High-Ranking Member Accused of Manufacturing and Distributing Fentanyl and Other Drugs
A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted Ceferino Espinoza Angulo, 43, a suspected high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel, on charges of manufacturing and distributing drugs, including fentanyl, in the United States.
Allegations
According to the indictment, Espinoza Angulo allegedly worked with others to obtain fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy in Mexico to distribute in the U.S. He is also accused of conspiring to obtain chemicals to make fentanyl and illegally possessing a machine gun.
Conspiracy to Protect the Operation
The indictment states that Espinoza Angulo employed “dozens” of gunmen to protect the operation and the leadership of a faction of the Sinaloa cartel led by the sons of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, known as “the Chapitos.”
The Chapitos
The sons of Joaquin Guzman Loera are Ivan Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez. In 2023, the brothers were charged in federal court in Chicago with running their father’s drug empire after his 2016 capture. Two of his sons are already in U.S. custody.
Current Situation
Ovidio Guzman Lopez was arrested in 2023 in Mexico and extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded not guilty. Joaquin Guzman Lopez surrendered to U.S. authorities last year, flying from Mexico to El Paso, Texas, with his father’s former cartel partner, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Legal Proceedings
Ovidio Guzman Lopez and Joaquin Guzman Lopez are both being held in Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center and are due to appear in court in the coming weeks as they continue to negotiate plea deals with federal prosecutors. Neither brother showed up to their first joint court hearing at the Dirksen Federal Building last month, where attorneys asked a federal judge for more time to continue plea negotiations.
Conclusion
The indictment of Ceferino Espinoza Angulo is a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel, which has been responsible for a significant portion of the fentanyl and other drugs flooding into the United States. The U.S. government is committed to disrupting the production and trafficking of these dangerous narcotics and will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to bring those responsible to justice.
FAQs
* What is the Sinaloa cartel?
The Sinaloa cartel is a Mexican drug cartel that has been responsible for a significant portion of the fentanyl and other drugs flooding into the United States.
* Who is Ceferino Espinoza Angulo?
Ceferino Espinoza Angulo is a suspected high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel accused of manufacturing and distributing drugs, including fentanyl, in the United States.
* What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. It is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, and can be deadly in small amounts.
* What is the Chapitos?
The Chapitos are the sons of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, who were charged in federal court in Chicago with running their father’s drug empire after his 2016 capture.
