Jesus Chaidez-Meza, Cocaine Trafficking, Maryland 2023

A Baltimore man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in a Sinaloa Cartel cell in Baltimore.

Jesus Chaidez-Meza, 40, a Mexican national and permanent legal resident of the United States, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett on [date] for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, Chaidez-Meza was recruited and sent to Baltimore in the summer of 2016 to oversee drug distribution operations conducted by the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.

Chaidez-Meza's ability to lease premises and purchase vehicles for use in the drug operations made him well suited for spearheading this particular Sinaloa cell. He maintained a presence in the Baltimore area through the Spring of 2017, when two large money seizures by DEA agents and task force officers resulted in the cell changing personnel.

Testimony at trial showed that the Sinaloa cartel has been distributing large quantities of cocaine in the Baltimore area for years. The cartel uses various 'cells' to accomplish its drug distribution, with truck drivers transporting drugs to the east coast and millions of dollars in drug proceeds to the west coast.

Chaidez-Meza helped to manage the cell in Baltimore. Cartel members provided funds to Chaidez-Meza to purchase a car and to rent an apartment from which he conducted the illegal cartel business. According to trial evidence, Chaidez-Meza worked with another individual, known only as Chu-Chi. Chu-Chi was responsible for the distribution of cocaine to local customers and Chaidez-Meza was responsible for the collection of the proceeds of the sales.

Witnesses testified that from September through December 2016, trucks arrived monthly with loads of 60-70 kilograms of cocaine. The driver then transported money back to California, where it was unloaded, and ultimately sent to Mexico. In December 2016, the driver arrived in Baltimore without drugs. On December 11, 2016, Chaidez-Meza and Chu-Chi delivered bags of money to the driver, which the driver packed in a hidden compartment in the tractor portion of the truck, and began driving west. Law enforcement officers stopped the truck just outside Hagerstown, Maryland and recovered $1.2 million from the hidden compartment, representing the proceeds from the sale of approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine.

According to trial evidence, shortly after the seizure, Chaidez-Meza returned to Mexico, but resurfaced in Baltimore.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/manager-sinaloa-cartel-cell-baltimore-sentenced-12-years-federal-prison