United States Attorney Robert Pitman, DEA Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Robert Champion today announced the indictment of Joaquin Guzman Loera, aka “El Chapo”; Ismael Zambada Garcia aka “Mayo”; and 22 other individuals responsible for the operations and management of the Sinaloa Cartel (cartel) charging them with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The 14-count grand jury indictment, returned on April 11, 2012 and unsealed today charges conspiracy to violate the RICO statute; conspiracy to possess more than five kilograms of cocaine and over 1000 kilograms of marijuana; conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine and 1000 kilograms of marijuana; conspiracy to commit money laundering; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; murder in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE) or drug trafficking; engaging in a CCE in furtherance of drug trafficking; conspiracy to kill in a foreign country; kidnapping; and violent crimes in aid of racketeering.
…According to the indictment, the purpose of the Sinaloa Cartel is to smuggle large quantities of marijuana and cocaine, as well as other drugs, into the United States for distribution. Laundered proceeds of drug trafficking activities are returned to cartel members and are used in part to purchase properties related to the daily functioning of the cartel, including real estate, firearms, ammunition, bulletproof vests, radios, telephones, uniforms, and vehicles. In an effort to maintain control of all aspects of their operations, the cartel and its associates, including members of the Gente Nueva (“New People”) and the Artistas Asesinos (“Murder artists”), kidnap, torture, and murder those who lose or steal assets belonging to, are disloyal to, or are enemies of the cartel. This includes the Juarez Cartel led by Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, a competing drug organization, as well as its enforcement arm known as La Linea and the Barrio Aztecas. Often, murders committed by the cartel involve brutal acts of violence as well the public display of the victim along with banners bearing written warnings to those who would cross the cartel.
FBI press release link: here