Fourteen indictments were unsealed today, charging 47 alleged members of an Imperial Valley, California-based drug distribution network linked to the Sinaloa Cartel with offenses including drug trafficking, firearms violations, and money laundering.
In a coordinated operation this morning, over 400 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials arrested 36 defendants and executed 25 search warrants across Imperial County; San Diego; Fresno; Los Angeles; Phoenix; and Salem, Oregon. Authorities continue to search for 11 fugitives.
Throughout the investigation, authorities seized more than four kilograms of fentanyl—equivalent to approximately two million potentially fatal doses—over 324 kilograms of methamphetamine (714 pounds), significant quantities of cocaine and heroin, and 52 firearms.
The investigation also led to the arrest of Alexander Grindley for alleged methamphetamine trafficking while employed as a U.S. Border Patrol agent. Multiple spin-off investigations are ongoing in this district and others.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, money laundering, and gun-related offenses. Court documents indicate that the defendants operated throughout various locations in the Imperial Valley—including Brawley, El Centro, Westmoreland, Imperial, Calexico, Niland, Holtville—and in Mexicali, Mexico.
“With this takedown, the Justice Department has dealt yet another blow to the Sinaloa Cartel and its associates,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the more than 400 law enforcement officers whose work in this operation resulted in dozens of arrests... We will continue to be relentless in our fight to protect American communities from the cartels.”
“The Department of Homeland Security and our federal... partners are unrelenting in our work to keep deadly fentanyl off our streets,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The indictments unsealed today are the direct result of our multipronged... approach — one that utilizes all of our government’s resources... Together we are preventing fentanyl... from being produced or distributed.”
“This investigation tore apart a drug trafficking network responsible for supplying dealers across the region,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California. “But there is still much work to be done... If you’re an addict... seek treatment."
“Today’s coordinated operation marks a decisive blow against an Imperial Valley-based distribution network,” said Acting Special Agent Chris Davis of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego.
“Today... El Centro Border Patrol Sector teamed with allied law enforcement agencies...” stated Chief Gregory Bovino of U.S. Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector.
“This operation shows what can be accomplished when there is collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies,” noted Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez.
According to court records from June 30th, 2021 agents seized two pounds of methamphetamine along with ghost guns including: lower receivers; upper receivers; barrels; stocks; magazines; Luger rounds; .223 Red Army ammunition—all lacking serial numbers or markings.
Wiretap intercepts indicated defendant Cory Gershen supplied ghost guns for methamphetamine exchanges within their organization. Further searches revealed additional ghost guns and drugs at defendant Guadalupe Molina-Flores’ residence.
Imperial County recorded 24 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022—a mortality rate increase by 41% compared to previous years due largely due to fentanyl's proliferation.
Prices per fentanyl pill have dropped significantly—from $1.65-$1.75 per pill mid-2021 down towards $0.45 by May reflecting increased supply via Sinaloa Cartel ties smuggling into United States territory.
This prosecution falls under Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) efforts which focus on disrupting high-level criminal networks through collaborative agency efforts leveraging intelligence-driven approaches across jurisdictions.
All defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt within judicial proceedings.