DEA News: Treasury Takes Additional Action Against Sinaloa Cartel

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced the designation of Victor Manuel Felix Felix, a close associate of fugitive drug lord Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman Loera, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.  Felix Felix plays a key role in Chapo Guzman’s drug trafficking organization and is the father-in-law of Guzman Loera’s son.  OFAC also designated four other individuals collaborating with Felix Felix and the Sinaloa Cartel.  Today’s action, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act), prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions with these individuals and freezes any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction.

“By exposing additional family members and other affiliates of the Sinaloa Cartel, this action builds on the Treasury Department’s consistent efforts to disrupt Chapo Guzman’s drug trafficking activities,” said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin.  “Treasury applauds the work that U.S. and foreign law enforcement authorities have already taken against the Felix Felix drug trafficking and money laundering organization.”

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Chief of Financial Operations John Arvanitis also stated, “DEA and its partners continue to expose facilitators of Chapo Guzman’s drug and money laundering empire.  Getting to the heart of the Sinaloa Cartel and other drug networks requires an aggressive, sustained attack by law enforcement.  These designations are examples of this effort and we will continue to target Chapo Guzman’s family members and business associates in order to inhibit their criminal operations that have impacted Mexico and other parts of the world.”

Victor Manuel Felix Felix is the head of a narcotics distribution and money laundering organization based in Guadalajara and Mexico City, Mexico.  OFAC is designating Victor Manuel Felix Felix, Jorge Guillermo Gonzalez Cardenas, Oscar Dominguez Villa Diaz, Rigoberto Dias Paniagua, and Gabriela Vazquez Villavicencio for their role in the operations of this criminal organization and material support they provide to Guzman Loera and the Sinaloa Cartel.  In May 2011, a Federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California returned an indictment charging Felix Felix and members of his organization with drug trafficking and money laundering offenses.  The indictment arose out of a DEA investigation linking the Felix Felix organization to the movement of ton quantities of cocaine in Ecuador and Mexico and the laundering of millions of U.S. and Canadian dollars through the international financial system.  In March 2011, law enforcement in Mexico and Ecuador arrested several members of this organization, including Felix Felix, and seized four tons of cocaine.  In July 2011, other members of the Felix Felix organization were arrested in law enforcement actions in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Colombia.  The U.S. is seeking the extradition of Felix Felix and other members of his organization. 

Felix Felix is the father-in law of Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, who is the son of Guzman Loera and Maria Alejandrina Salazar Hernandez.  OFAC designated Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and his mother, Maria Alejandrina Salazar Hernandez, as specially designated narcotics traffickers in June 2012 for their support to Guzman Loera’s illicit activities.  The President identified Guzman Loera as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker pursuant to the Kingpin Act in 2001. 

 

Today’s action would not have been possible without the key support of the DEA.

Internationally, OFAC has designated more than 1,100 businesses and individuals linked to 97 drug kingpins since June 2000.  Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1.075 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties.  Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $5 million. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million.  Other individuals could face up to 10 years in prison and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act.

Statement on Search Warrants Executed in Midvale, West Valley City

SALT LAKE CITY—Federal law enforcement agencies executed search warrants Tuesday at three locations associated with a business formerly operating under the name “CC Brown Law Office” in Midvale and West Valley City. The business has also operated under other names, including “Sentry Legal,” “WT Lee,” and “JL Martin.” The search warrant is sealed. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the investigation.

Individuals who have been working with the business on a mortgage modification and who would like information can contact a toll-free number established by the FBI at 1-877-236-8947 (press option 2). The toll-free number will be activated this evening. A recorded message will advise individuals that they can submit contact information and copies of any documents to the FBI by mailing them to the FBI Salt Lake City Division, attention CC Brown Investigation. The FBI’s address is 257 East 200 South, Suite 1200, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.

Individuals can also submit information about the company’s business practices to the FBI by e-mail at saltlakecity@ic.fbi.gov.

The FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) are working together to create a web page to provide an online resource for CC Brown customers. The web page is currently under construction. Anyone interested in the web page can call 1-877-236-8947 (press option 2) for updates on when it will be available.

Several agencies, including the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, SIGTARP, and the Departments of Treasury and Housing and Urban Development’s Making Home Affordable program, have online resources available to provide information and tips for those looking for consumer advice on mortgage modifications.

DEA NEWS: Treasury Targets Leading Figures of Sinaloa Cartel

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced the designation of four key Sinaloa Cartel operatives, including two sons of Sinaloa drug lord Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman Loera. Today’s action, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act), prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions with these four individuals, and also freezes any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction. 

Today’s action would not have been possible without the support of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “In order to put organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel out of business, we must continue to utilize every tool available to ensure that these criminal groups and their associates cannot exploit the U.S. financial system,” said DEA Chief of Financial Operations John Arvanitis. “DEA is attacking the Sinaloa Cartel and other organizations at every level like never before, so they are put out of business and their leaders are brought to justice.”

OFAC is designating Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Ovidio Guzman Lopez for their roles in their father’s drug trafficking organization and the Sinaloa Cartel. In 2005, Mexican authorities arrested Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar on money laundering charges, but he was later released. Ovidio Guzman Lopez also plays a significant role in his father’s drug trafficking activities. Noel Salgueiro Nevarez is the head of the Sinaloa Cartel in the Mexican state of Chihuahua where a bloody turf war has claimed the lives of thousands. Mexican authorities arrested him in October 2011, and he remains in Mexican custody. Ovidio Limon Sanchez, also currently in Mexican custody, is a major operative for the Sinaloa Cartel in Sinaloa state. He was arrested in November 2011 by Mexican authorities. Additionally, in 2009, a jury in the U.S. District for the Central District of California returned an indictment against Ovidio Limon Sanchez, charging him with multiple counts of drug trafficking.  

“OFAC will aggressively target those individuals who facilitate Chapo Guzman’s drug trafficking operations, including family members,” said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. “With the Government of Mexico, we are firm in our resolve to dismantle Chapo Guzman’s drug trafficking organization.”

Joaquin Guzman Loera and the Sinaloa Cartel were previously identified by the President as significant foreign narcotics traffickers pursuant to the Kingpin Act in 2001 and 2009, respectively. 

Internationally, OFAC has designated more than 1,000 businesses and individuals linked to 94 drug kingpins since June 2000. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1.075 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $5 million. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million. Other individuals could face up to 10 years in prison and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act.

Today’s action would not have been possible without the support of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “In order to put organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel out of business, we must continue to utilize every tool available to ensure that these criminal groups and their associates cannot exploit the U.S. financial system,” said DEA Chief of Financial Operations John Arvanitis. “DEA is attacking the Sinaloa Cartel and other organizations at every level like never before, so they are put out of business and their leaders are brought to justice.”

OFAC is designating Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Ovidio Guzman Lopez for their roles in their father’s drug trafficking organization and the Sinaloa Cartel. In 2005, Mexican authorities arrested Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar on money laundering charges, but he was later released. Ovidio Guzman Lopez also plays a significant role in his father’s drug trafficking activities. Noel Salgueiro Nevarez is the head of the Sinaloa Cartel in the Mexican state of Chihuahua where a bloody turf war has claimed the lives of thousands. Mexican authorities arrested him in October 2011, and he remains in Mexican custody. Ovidio Limon Sanchez, also currently in Mexican custody, is a major operative for the Sinaloa Cartel in Sinaloa state. He was arrested in November 2011 by Mexican authorities. Additionally, in 2009, a jury in the U.S. District for the Central District of California returned an indictment against Ovidio Limon Sanchez, charging him with multiple counts of drug trafficking.  

“OFAC will aggressively target those individuals who facilitate Chapo Guzman’s drug trafficking operations, including family members,” said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. “With the Government of Mexico, we are firm in our resolve to dismantle Chapo Guzman’s drug trafficking organization.”

Joaquin Guzman Loera and the Sinaloa Cartel were previously identified by the President as significant foreign narcotics traffickers pursuant to the Kingpin Act in 2001 and 2009, respectively. 

Internationally, OFAC has designated more than 1,000 businesses and individuals linked to 94 drug kingpins since June 2000. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1.075 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $5 million. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million. Other individuals could face up to 10 years in prison and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act.