Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine

MACON, Ga. - A Mexican national and member of the Sinaloa Cartel, who was involved in a major methamphetamine and cocaine distribution organization out of Monroe, Georgia, and discussed his frustration with no longer receiving "busloads" of illegal drugs and preparing for a visit by the son of Sinaloa's leader was sentenced to serve more than 15 years in prison for his crime resulting from an Operation Take Back America investigation led by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.

Jose Guadalupe Favela, 68, a citizen of Mexico and legally in the United States as a resident of Riverdale, Georgia, and formerly of Monroe, Georgia, was sentenced to 188 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self, III on March 9. Favela pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Sept. 22, 2025.

"Jose Favela was a significant operative in the Sinaloa Cartel, responsible for facilitating the distribution of massive quantities of deadly drugs into Georgia," said U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes. "Thanks to the relentless efforts of the FBI and HSI, we dismantled this cartel pipeline and brought these criminals to justice."

"Jose Favela was a key member of the Sinaloa Cartel's drug trafficking operation, responsible for bringing deadly methamphetamine and cocaine into Georgia. His actions fueled a dangerous pipeline, impacting communities across the state," said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Georgia's Macon office. "Thanks to the tireless efforts of the FBI and HSI, this criminal enterprise has been dismantled, and those responsible for flooding our streets with illegal drugs will face justice."

"This sentencing demonstrates the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations and our partners to protect Georgia from the dangers posed by cartels and their drug trafficking operations," said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. "Working alongside the FBI and local law enforcement, HSI agents dismantled a major criminal network, preventing massive quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from reaching our communities. We remain dedicated to safeguarding Georgia's families and neighborhoods from violent crime and illegal drugs."

Favela's co-conspirators have all pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison for their crimes:

Diego Garcia, 28, of Mexico and an illegal alien, was sentenced to 188 months in prison on Jan. 17, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Sept. 7, 2023;

Luis Mejina Pina, aka "La Perra," 32, of Richmond, California, was sentenced to 48 months in prison on Dec. 3, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to one count of use of a communication facility to facilitate possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Sept. 18, 2025; and

Juan Pablo Torres, 32, of Mexico and an illegal alien, was sentenced to 48 months in prison on July 2, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of use of a communication facility to facilitate possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 15, 2024.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents and statements referenced in court, FBI and HSI agents used a confidential informant to engage in consensual monitoring of conversations with Favela at Bold Springs Road in Monroe on Dec. 6, 2021, targeting Favela, who lived at the ranch. Favela was under investigation for distributing large quantities of illegal drugs through his connections with the Durango cartel, an operational arm of the larger Sinaloa cartel, a violent Mexico-based organized crime group.

During the recorded conversation, Favela claimed he had stored up to 800 kilograms of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine between the Monroe Ranch and another location known as the Grayson Ranch, located in the Northern District of Georgia. During multiple recorded conversations, Favela discussed his many years of importing controlled substances from Mexico and shared that he was disappointed that he was no longer receiving "busloads" of illegal drugs. Agents understood that this past activity had occurred at a location in Lamar County, Georgia.

At one point in late 2021, Favela was recorded saying that he and other cartel members were not actively importing and distributing illegal drugs in his area for a few weeks because they were preparing for the arrival of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, aka "El Raton," a prominent member of the Sinaloa Cartel and son of Juaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who was then a fugitive. Favela suggested that he and others did not want to draw law enforcement attention that might lead to El Raton's capture while he was visiting them in Georgia. Ultimately, Favela reported that El Raton changed his plans due to a snowstorm in Georgia.

At the request of a confidential informant working with federal agents, Favela contacted co-conspirator Pina to order kilograms of "frio," which is slang for methamphetamine. Favela wanted $1,000 for brokering the deal and future deals between the CI and Pina. As a result, the FBI and HSI conducted three controlled purchases facilitated by Favela for methamphetamine and cocaine on Dec. 19, 2021, Sept. 29, 2022, and Oct. 6, 2022.

During the transactions involving Favela and Pina, the other co-conspirators were involved at different times, including Pina instructing the CI to meet with Garcia in January 2022 to purchase a kilogram of methamphetamine at the Grayson Ranch. During that transaction, Garcia agreed to sell the CI up to ten kilograms of methamphetamine and a kilogram of cocaine. Garcia communicated with Torres approximately 158 times between May and September 2022; Torres was taken into custody with Garcia on Oct. 26, 2022, during the controlled purchase of more than four kilograms of methamphetamine at a gas station in Flowery Branch, Georgia. At their arrest, Garcia and Torres admitted they were in the United States illegally, and that they were living and working at the Grayson Ranch. Garcia acknowledged he had a criminal record in California and Torres admitted he was deported approximately three months prior to the arrest.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The FBI and HSI investigated the case.

Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.