The US formally charges El Chapo Isidro of drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat from SinEmbargo and Zeta Tijuana

Meza Flores is formally accused that since 2005 he conspired with others to traffic at least 500 grams of methamphetamines, five kilograms of cocaine, one of heroin, and at least one ton of marijuana

The Criminal Division of the Department of Justice of the United States, filed a formal indictment in a court of the District of Columbia, in Washington, against the Sinaloa chief Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, aka “El Chapo Isidro”, alleged leader of the criminal group “Los Mazatlecos”.

Meza Flores is accused of , since 2005,  conspiring  with others to traffic at least 500 grams of methamphetamines, five kilograms of cocaine, one of heroin, and at least one ton of marijuana. [Quantities are minimum required for a Life sentence]

"El Chapo Isidro" is also accused of possession of weapons.

In mid-February 2018, “El Chapo Isidro” obtained an amparo from the Sixth District Court, against an order of apprehension for organized crime, so he cannot be arrested, or even wanted for said crime.

According to public documents of the Federal Judiciary, cited at that time by the newspaper El Universal, the trial of guarantees extended until last December 1, when the Seventh District Court, based in Los Mochis, granted the protection to “El Chapo Isidro.”

Previously, on August 25, 2017, Meza Flores's lawyers filed a lawsuit, which must now be resolved by a Sinaloa Collegiate Court, and whose magistrates took the case since last January 4.

At the end of September 2017, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that in conjunction with the Bureau of Antinarcotics and Procuration of International Justice of the US State Department, it offers a reward of five million dollars for information that leads to the capture and / or sentence of "El Chapo Isidro".

The FBI indicated that Meza Flores was linked to prosecution through a federal formal indictment in a District Court of Columbia for violations of narcotics and firearms laws, "according to section 21 USC sections 959, 960 and 963; and section 18 USC section 924 (use of firearms) ”.

According to the Bureau of Antinarcotics and the Procuration of International Justice, "El Chapo Isidro" is the alleged boss "of an important cartel based in the state of Sinaloa [Los Mazatlecos]". Earlier, the FBI said, Meza Flores was a senior ringleader of the Beltrán Leyva organization.

"El Chapo Isidro" was considered the right hand of Alfredo Beltrán Leyva, aka "El Mochomo", before his arrest in 2008.

The US Bureau of Investigation indicated that, any information about the Sinaloa kingpin should be communicated at 202-278-2000, dialing option 4, or contact the embassy (at 55-5080-2000) or nearest consulate , or fill out an online form at tips.fbi.gov.

Earlier, on January 17, 2013, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), of the US Treasury Department, announced that Meza Flores' assets had been frozen, as well as seven of the members of his family, and three companies that were related to his criminal organization.

In May 2012, a District Court in Columbia issued an accusation against the Sinaloa kingpin for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine, 50 grams of methamphetamine, one kilogram of heroin, and one thousand kilograms of marijuana, as well as use of a weapon fire.

Born in 1982, in Bamoa, a Guasave union, Meza Flores belonged as a teenager to the Sinaloa Cartel. But, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Sinaloean drug trafficker moved to the Beltran Leyva Cartel, of which he was one of its last leaders.

In that group, also known as "El Chapito" Isidro, became the most important rival of Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, aka "El Chapo" Guzmán, when he traced the routes of his escape, according to the US Department of the Treasury. 

Also by Ismael Zambada García, aka "El Mayo", after the breakup of Arturo Beltrán Leyva, "El Barbas", with the Sinaloa federation, in 2008, due to the arrest of his brother Alfredo Beltrán, "El Mochomo" .

For this, he formed an alliance with the previous leader of "Los Mazatlecos", Santiago Lizarraga Ibarra, alias "El Chagún". The Office of the Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime Investigation (Seido) considered this organization - also known as "The Office" - as extremely violent.

Meza Flores has escaped several operations that have been implemented by the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena), the Secretariat of the Navy-Navy of Mexico (Semar) and the Federal Police (PF), including one, in 2013, when sailors arrived at a wedding in the community of Santa María del Oro, Nayarit, where the narcocorridos singer, Remmy Valenzuela died.

“El Chapo” Isidro was one of the 122 “priority objectives”, supposed criminals that were listed because they were considered by the Federal Government, as highly dangerous and the main generators of violence in the country.

From FBI:

Date(s) of Birth Used            June 19, 1982

Place of Birth Mexico

Hair    Dark Brown

Eyes    Brown

Height 5'6"

Weight            160 pounds

Sex      Male

Race    White (Hispanic)

Nationality     Mexican

NCIC  W135060088

Reward:

The United States Department of State's Narcotics Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the arrest and/or conviction of Fausto Isidro Meza-Flores.

Remarks:

Meza-Flores is believed to be living in Mexico.  He was previously a high-ranking leader of the Beltran-Leyva Transnational Criminal Organization and was considered to be the “right hand man” of Alfredo Beltran-Leyva prior to Beltran-Leyva’s arrest in 2008.

Caution:

Fausto Isidro Meza-Flores is the alleged leader of the Meza-Flores Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), a major drug trafficking organization based in Sinaloa, Mexico.  The Meza-Flores TCO is allegedly responsible for the possession, distribution, and importation of large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana into the United States, and has predominately controlled drug distribution in parts of Sinaloa, southern Sonora, and Nayarit, Mexico.

On May 2, 2012, a federal indictment was issued for Meza-Flores in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia after he was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine, Fifty Grams or More of Methamphetamine, One Kilogram or More of Heroin, and One Thousand Kilograms or More of Marijuana for Importation into the United States; and Use of a Firearm.

SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS AND AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT RISK

Submit a Tip:

If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

Field Office: Washington D.C.