Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Investigation Results in Federal Charges of Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Conspiracies against Prolific Methamphetamine Trafficker[...]

A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment yesterday against Jaime "Jimmy" Sanchez Soriano, 45, of Mexico, a prolific drug trafficker who imported vast amounts of methamphetamine into the United States.

Before his capture on March 19 by Mexican authorities, Sanchez Soriano procured methamphetamine from Los Viagras Cartel, a notoriously violent drug trafficking organization affiliated with the United Cartels, which is among the world's most significant methamphetamine producers, capable of manufacturing multiple tons every month. The United Cartels' distribution network spans the United States, with hubs in Kansas City, Missouri, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Sacramento, California, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago, and extends to Europe, Australia, and other regions. On Feb. 20, 2025Links to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., the U.S. Department of State designated the United Cartels (also known as Cárteles Unidos), as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, as amended. In August 2025, the Criminal Division announced criminal charges against several top leaders of the United Cartels and Los Viagras Cartel.

Sanchez-Soriano is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine for importation into the United States, and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted he faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Roger Polack and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri provided significant assistance.

MNF's mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.