High-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel have been charged in a federal superseding indictment unsealed in East St. Louis, Illinois, for allegedly trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into southern Illinois and laundering the proceeds to Mexico.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “The Sinaloa Cartel relies on drug trafficking to finance its terrorism against the American people while spreading poison in our communities. Today’s indictment is a significant blow against this terrorist organization’s infrastructure as we carry out President Trump’s mission of dismantling and destroying the cartels.”
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “The Sinaloa Cartel is a vicious international criminal organization that spreads terror through intimidation, torture, and murder. The entire enterprise is financed through a drug distribution network that includes southern Illinois. Today’s superseding indictment targets some of the highest level of Sinaloa leadership demonstrating our commitment to use every possible tool to crush this cartel, dismantling its operations, and protecting our community from its narcoterrorism.”
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole commented on the operation: “Today’s announcement in the Southern District of Illinois is monumental in our fight to eliminate the Sinaloa Cartel. The extraordinary work of the St. Louis Field Division and their partners resulted in the seizure of nearly 800 pounds of fentanyl and exposed a money laundering network that pushed millions in cartel profits through U.S. banks. This is not a street-corner operation— it is a cartel pipeline that has flooded the Midwest with significant amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. We continue the fight, using all the resources of the United States government, to destroy the Sinaloa Cartel.”
According to court documents and officials involved in the investigation, over one week law enforcement arrested 15 defendants linked to this case across multiple states as part of an ongoing effort targeting associates connected with Mexican-based transnational drug trafficking organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel.
The indictment alleges that between January 2020 and July 2025, these individuals were involved in distributing more than 400 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly 80 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 50 kilograms of cocaine throughout communities including those within southern Illinois.
On February 19, 2025, President Donald Trump designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by State Department action under Executive Order 14157 signed earlier that year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this designation alongside seven other criminal organizations classified as FTOs and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
Among those named in court filings are Prospero Coronel-Sanchez (“Pro”), Jose Luis Angulo-Soto (“El Mi Nino”), German Angel Alatorre-Monge (South Gate CA), Leobardo Alcaraz-Ibarra (Phoenix AZ), Miguel Angel Aramburo Jr., Manuel Buenrostro (Cudahy CA), Oscar Bryan Castro (Pasadena CA), Carlos Diaz Jr., Alejandro Flores (Cudahy CA), Armando Gallardo (Chula Vista CA), Karen L. Gandarillas-Carreno (Sun Valley CA), Roberto J Gonzalez Jr., Sabrina Danielle Herrera (South Gate CA), Mauro Armando Luna-Renteria (Lynwood CA), Lucia Viridiana Montano (Rio Rico AZ), David Alonso Pereda (Costa Mesa CA), Memo Perez (“Demecia Perez”, Los Angeles CA), Jaqueline Desiree Piikkila-Vigueras (Tucson AZ), Miguel Rios (Cudahy CA), Richard Ruiz Jr., Evan Sanchez (Victorville CA), Julio Villa-Morales (Tucson AZ), Jose Espino-Zavala (“Mexican national”), Martin Ismael Zuniga-Lopez (“Los Angeles CA”), Earl Frank (“O’Fallon IL”), Michael Pennel (“Oklahoma City OK”).
Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale noted efforts by postal inspectors: “Fentanyl is destroying lives and devastating communities across the country. Every pill, every powder, every shipment, every sale of this drug has the potential to take a life…Postal inspectors remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of this deadly drug in our mailstream and hold criminals who profit from poisoning our neighborhoods accountable.”
DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent Michael Davis added: “We will not tolerate drug cartels smuggling their poison into our American communities…The DEA…works relentlessly to identify and arrest anyone engaging in manufacturing [and] distribution…of any illicit drugs making their way into…this nation.”
IRS Criminal Investigation’s William Steenson emphasized financial investigations: “Drug traffickers will stop at nothing to continue profiting from…fentanyl…[IRS-CI] special agents are experts at tracing funding sources…We’re committed to protecting our communities by investigating anyone involved…and working with federal law enforcement partners to bring them justice.”
United States Marshal David C. Davis recognized interagency cooperation: “This indictment illustrates reach…[of] DEA…[in] combating distribution…within Southern District [through] Sinaloa Cartel….USMS are proud partners with DEA…with all arrests [and] fugitive investigations generated by this case.”
This prosecution forms part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative coordinated by Department of Justice agencies including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces—to combat illegal immigration as well as cartels operating within U.S borders.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Karelia Rajagopal, Laura Reppert,and Thomas Leggans are leading prosecution efforts for these cases.
A previous March 2023 indictment had already charged Earl Frank along with ten others; several have since pleaded guilty or await sentencing while others maintain not guilty pleas pending trial outcomes.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
