High-Ranking Sinaloa Cartel Member Arrested

Defendant’s Arrest is Final Arrest of 38 Indicted as Part of Alleged Conspiracy

GREENSBORO, N.C. – A Mexican national and high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was arrested today (April 22) in Nogales, Arizona, after being indicted for allegedly helping lead a large drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.

Emmanuel Martimiano Leon-Soto, 42, of Naco, Mexico, is the last person arrested of 38 total individuals charged in November 2024 by a federal grand jury seated in the Middle District of North Carolina with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride. Leon-Soto is also known as Manny, Jose Manuel Lopez-Castro, Jesus Lopez Castro, Pedro Beltran Zazueta, Pedro Zazueta Beltran, Emmanuel Gomez, Emanuel Leon, Emanuel Leon-Soto, Manuel Leon Soto, Jose Manuel Lopez Castro, and Emanuel Pena Gomez. He is one of 10 of the defendants also charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking scheme.

Prior to his indictment, Leon-Soto was designated as a Regional Priority Target (RPOT) by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. He is a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel (also known as Cártel de Sinaloa, Mexican Federation, and Guadalajara Cartel), which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Cártel de Sinaloa is one of the world’s most powerful drug cartels and one of the largest producers involved in the smuggling, importation, and distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States.

“The arrest of Leon-Soto is a significant development in our case against this organization, which is responsible for trafficking large quantities of narcotics to our district and throughout the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randall S. Galyon for the Middle District of North Carolina. “This prosecution is a testament to the power of collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement through the OCDETF program, and we thank all the investigating agencies for their tireless commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that threaten the safety and security of our community.”

“Today’s arrest should send a strong message to anyone who thinks they can further their criminal drug enterprise through the U.S. Mail and remain anonymous — that will never happen,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division. “Postal inspectors will vigorously pursue you and bring you to justice, keeping the communities we serve and the mailstream safe for U.S. Postal Service employees and customers.”

“Today’s arrest is the direct result of the hard work and collaboration between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of HSI Charlotte, which oversees North and South Carolina. “Leon-Sotos’ criminal activity, combined with his leadership role in the Sinaloa Cartel, makes him a significant threat to the safety of the American people. This extensive investigation highlights HSI’s unwavering commitment to protect our country and communities from the dangers of illegal narcotics. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure dangerous drug trafficking organizations are disrupted and held accountable for their crimes.”

“These drug traffickers endangered countless lives by distributing large quantities of deadly fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division. “Driven by greed, these defendants had total disregard for their actions that far too often have tragic consequences.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation continues to aggressively pursue complicit operators and facilitators to break up fentanyl networks,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Charlotte Field Office. “Our special agents will use their authorities and financial expertise to work alongside our partner agencies while following the money to stop those who profit from deadly fentanyl sales in the United States.”

If convicted, Leon-Soto faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the drug conspiracy, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

As of today, 32 of the 38 defendants charged in this case have pleaded guilty to each of the counts against them and are awaiting sentencing.

This prosecution is part of an OCDETF investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Investigating agencies include the USPIS, HSI, DEA, IRS-CI, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, Candor Police Department, Mesa (Arizona) Police Department, Davie County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Drug Task Force, Mooresville Police Department, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, and Surry County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Pryor for the Middle District of North Carolina is prosecuting the case.