A notorious Sinaloa Cartel member has been extradited to the United States and is facing life in prison after being charged with RICO conspiracy, cocaine and marijuana smuggling, and money laundering.
Arturo Shows Urquidi, aka "Chous", 47, was extradited from Mexico to the United States yesterday afternoon and is expected to make his initial appearance later today in federal court in El Paso.
Urquidi is one of 24 alleged high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel leaders, including Joaquin Guzman Loera aka "El Chapo" and Ismael Zambada Garcia aka "Mayo", indicted on federal racketeering charges in April 2012.
According to the indictment, Urquidi was responsible for the unloading and loading of cocaine, drug proceeds, and firearms in Sinaloa Cartel warehouses in Juarez.
Urquidi faces up to life in federal prison if convicted of the charges, which include one count of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (RICO conspiracy), one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, one count of conspiracy to import into the United States five kilograms or more of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses, and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
The investigation resulted in the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, thousands of pounds of marijuana in cities throughout the United States, and millions of dollars in drug proceeds destined to be returned to the Cartel in Mexico.
The DEA, FBI, and ATF together with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) and U.S. Border Patrol worked together to bring Urquidi to justice and dismantle the Sinaloa Cartel’s operations in the United States.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Urquidi’s extradition is a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel, which has smuggled multi-ton quantities of cocaine and heroin into the United States for decades, using intimidation, violence, and murder to build and protect their criminal empire.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Kyle W. Williamson said, "The extradition of Urquidi exemplifies the will of the international law enforcement collaboration to target, disrupt, and dismantle the powerful Mexican cartels."
FBI Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, Jr. added, "The extradition of Urquidi demonstrates that when we work together with our law enforcement partners both here and in Mexico, we can bring Sinaloa Cartel leadership and its core members to justice."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek, II stated, "ATF remains committed to partnerships that combat violent crime and firearms trafficking. Working together to dismantle criminal organizations improves public safety and increases social and economic stability."
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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