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Texas Cartel Kingpin ‘La Minsa’ Busted in Dallas
DALLAS — Arnoldo Rueda-Medina, known by several aliases including ‘La Minsa,’ arrived in the United States today from Mexico to face criminal charges in connection with his top leadership roles in the ‘La Familia-Michoacan’ Mexican drug cartel.
According to a federal indictment, Rueda-Medina, 47, was a key player in a massive cocaine and methamphetamine distribution ring that operated in the Dallas area. The indictment alleges that from approximately September 2008 to October 21, 2009, Rueda-Medina and 13 co-conspirators arranged for the acquisition of cocaine and methamphetamine from supply sources affiliated with the ‘La Familia-Michoacan’ Mexican drug cartel.
The indictment further alleges that during the same time, Rueda-Medina and the 13 co-conspirators coordinated the delivery of drug proceeds, used the drug proceeds to rent residences in North Texas that were subsequently used to store both drugs and drug proceeds, and disposed of the drug proceeds in a manner and with the intent to promote or assist the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney John Parker praised the efforts of law enforcement agencies, saying, ‘This case and others like it around the country demonstrate that, when we work together with our law enforcement partners both here and in Mexico, we can bring cartel leadership to justice.’
Rueda-Medina made his initial appearance in federal court in Dallas this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Horan on charges outlined in a second superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Texas in September 2010. If convicted on the drug conspiracy, Rueda-Medina faces a statutory sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison and up to a $4 million fine. If convicted on the money laundering conspiracy, Rueda-Medina faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.
Rueda-Medina’s case is a significant blow to the ‘La Familia-Michoacan’ cartel, which has been involved in numerous high-profile crimes in the United States and Mexico. The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Rueda-Medina under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) in 2010, blocking all property and interests in property, subject to U.S. jurisdiction, owned or controlled by Rueda-Medina, and prohibiting U.S. citizens and companies from doing any kind of business activity with him.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dallas Police Department and the Garland Police Department, with special assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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