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Sinaloa Cartel Boss ‘Pinocho’ Extradited to Face US Charges
BROOKLYN – Jesus Guzman-Castro, a high-ranking member of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, is now in U.S. custody, facing federal cocaine trafficking charges in Brooklyn. Guzman-Castro, also known as “Chuy,” “El Narizon,” and “Pinocho,” was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho on an indictment detailing his alleged role in a massive international drug distribution network. He was arrested in Mexico and transferred to the United States on August 12, 2025, under Mexico’s National Security Law, and ordered detained pending trial.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella, Jr., didn’t mince words. “As alleged, Guzman-Castro was a senior member of the Sinaloa Cartel, a prolific and violent drug trafficking organization that has flooded American streets with deadly narcotics for decades,” Nocella stated. “Guzman-Castro will now face justice in a courtroom in the United States for all the harm his actions have wrought. The total elimination of drug cartels is a national priority, and the Department of Justice and our Office are fully committed to carrying out that objective.”
The indictment alleges Guzman-Castro operated as a key figure within the Sinaloa Cartel, previously led by infamous drug lords Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as “El Mayo,” and Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, “El Chapo.” According to court filings, Guzman-Castro oversaw a network of underlings – armed gunmen, transporters, and money launderers – directing the flow of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and the laundering of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds. The alleged conspiracy spanned from December 2015 to March 2021.
DEA Special Agent in Charge, Frank A. Tarentino III, highlighted the collaborative effort that brought Guzman-Castro to justice. “The arrest and transfer of Jesus Guzman-Castro is the result of the relentless efforts of the DEA and our law enforcement partners to dismantle the most dangerous drug trafficking organizations,” Tarentino said. “For decades, Guzman-Castro helped flood American streets with deadly narcotics, and the DEA remains committed to pursuing those who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.” The investigation revealed Guzman-Castro sourced cocaine from organizations in Guatemala, then orchestrated its transport through Mexico and into the United States.
This prosecution is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the DEA. The OCDETF program aims to dismantle major drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations through a multi-agency, intelligence-driven approach. Nocella expressed gratitude for the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division, DEA’s Mexico City office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Government of Mexico.
Guzman-Castro faces up to life in prison if convicted. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case is also part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative focused on combating the influx of illegal narcotics. The government alleges Guzman-Castro’s actions fueled the very crisis the operation seeks to address, and his trial promises to be a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel’s operations in the United States.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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