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A high-ranking affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ceferino Espinoza Angulo, 43, was charged yesterday with manufacturing and distributing fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and other illicit drugs.
According to a grand jury indictment, Espinoza Angulo allegedly conspired to import these substances into the United States and played a key role in the cartel’s operations, which have contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis in the country.
The indictment highlights the significant role Espinoza Angulo allegedly played in the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug trafficking operations, employing numerous armed gunmen in Mexico to protect the cartel’s leadership. The “Chapitos” — the sons of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel — were also named as key figures in the cartel’s ongoing leadership. Espinoza Angulo is accused of procuring fentanyl precursor chemicals, which are used in the production of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has been central to the drug overdose crisis in the United States. He is also accused of illegal possession of a machinegun to support his operations.
The Justice Department has made it clear that combating fentanyl trafficking is a top priority, with Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Criminal Division emphasizing the need for transparency in tackling the drug problem. “Stopping Mexican cartels from poisoning our communities with fentanyl and other narcotics is a top priority of this Administration,” she said. “Today’s indictment demonstrates that the Criminal Division is relentless in its pursuit of the drug traffickers who profit at the expense of the American people.”
The indictment comes at a time when fentanyl and other narcotics are wreaking havoc across the country, particularly in northern Illinois. Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois noted the devastating impact of fentanyl in local communities, pledging continued collaboration with law enforcement agencies to disrupt the drug trade.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the production and trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics before they can reach more victims,” Pasqual said.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath of the Southern District of California also emphasized the multi-pronged approach being taken to combat the flow of drugs into the country. “From San Diego to Chicago to D.C., we are united to bring down the traffickers pushing these poisons into American communities,” McGrath said, underscoring the ongoing efforts to target cartel leaders and their operations.
The indictment charges Espinoza Angulo with multiple offenses, including conspiracy to traffic drugs and firearm violations. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life in prison. Espinoza Angulo is believed to be residing in Mexico, and authorities have issued a U.S. warrant for his arrest.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division, with additional support from other law enforcement agencies, including the Portland, Oregon, Police Bureau. The case was prosecuted by the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Northern District of Illinois, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California.
Espinoza Angulo’s indictment is part of an ongoing effort to dismantle transnational drug trafficking organizations through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The task force utilizes a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach to dismantle drug cartels, with the collaboration of federal, state, and local agencies working together to protect U.S. communities from the dangerous effects of drug trafficking.
