Alleged Money Launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel Extradited

SAN DIEGO – Juan Manuel Alvarez-Inzunza, alleged top money launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel, was arraigned in federal court today following his extradition to the United States from Mexico yesterday.

On March 6, 2015, a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of California returned an indictment charging Alvarez-Inzunza with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Alvarez-Inzunza was previously designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for his role in providing money laundering services to top cartel leaders including Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera.

Alvarez-Inzunza was arrested by Mexican law enforcement officers in March 2016, at the request of the United States. Since his arrest in Mexico, Alvarez-Inzunza has remained in custody pending extradition to the United States. He was flown by the United States Marshals Service from Mexico City to San Diego on June 2, 2021. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, June 3, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Linda Lopez.

Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman stated, “Today is a reminder that international drug kingpins and money launderers who profit by shipping narcotics into our community are not safe from prosecution. We will work with our international partners to bring them to justice wherever they reside.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Grossman praised the outstanding work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Zipp, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for their ongoing assistance in this investigation.

“Juan Manuel Alvarez-Inzunza is responsible for moving millions of dollars in illicit drug proceeds from the United States into Mexico,” said Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego. “We stand dedicated and united with our law enforcement partners to continue dismantling these organizations; ensuring they can no longer hide from the authorities and that they will ultimately be brought to justice.”

This case is also the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.   

DEFENDANT                                                                       14-CR-2253-DMS

Juan Manuel Alvarez-Inzunza

Age: 39

Hometown: Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico              

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

• Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. 1956(h))
• Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Intended for Importation ( 21 U.S.C. 959, 960, 963)
• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine and Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. 952 and 960)
• Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1) and 846)

AGENCIES

Homeland Security Investigations

Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control

Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.