Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel on Drug Conspiracy Charge

CHICAGO - A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel on a drug conspiracy charge for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States.

According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, JOSE ANGEL CANOBBIO INZUNZA served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, who along with his three brothers allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment accuses Canobbio Inzunza of conspiring with the brothers - who are known as the "Chapitos" - and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as Los Chimales, which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States, the indictment states. The Chapitos were charged last year in other U.S. indictments.

The indictment against Canobbio Inzunza, 44, charges him with drug conspiracy. The charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, Tara K. McGrath, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, David Sundberg, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, Stacey Moy, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum of the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton of the Southern District of California, and Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.