Rodolfo Maldonado-Bustos, also known as Don Jose, and Euclides Camacho-Goicochea, also known as El Quilles, who occupy leadership roles in the La Nueva Familia Michoacana drug cartel, were charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to import heroin into the United States.
Earlier today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) announced financial sanctions against Camacho-Goicochea and Maldonado-Bustos, who are fugitives believed to be residing in Mexico.
“These actions demonstrate that in addition to holding cartel leaders accountable for their crimes, we are working together with our partners at the Treasury Department to hit the cartels’ criminal operations where it hurts the most – their profits,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to disrupt the cartels profiting from drug trafficking and human smuggling that devastate communities and endanger our national security.”
“These cartel members allegedly imported massive amounts of heroin from Mexico to the Atlanta area and elsewhere in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “The federal indictments in conjunction with the recent imposition of OFAC sanctions send a strong message that our office, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly investigate, prosecute, and defund individuals around the globe who import deadly drugs into our communities.”
“Denying drug cartels the profits earned from distributing poison in our communities is an essential tool in DEA’s efforts to combat these drug cartels,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. “DEA Atlanta will continue to attack the La Nueva Familia cartel on all fronts by arresting its members, as well as seizing their drugs and assets.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are highly skilled financial investigators who can unravel complex schemes cartels use to hide their money,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Atlanta Field Office. “IRS-CI and other members of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces will continue working together to bring these international criminals to justice.”
According to indictments and other information presented in court, in September 2016 agents of DEA and IRS-CI initiated an investigation into Mexico-based La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel members allegedly importing heroin, cocaine, and marijuana into the United States, including to Northern District of Georgia. As part of this investigation agents identified Maldonado-Bustos as a high-level cartel member who allegedly coordinated manufacturing large quantities of heroin in Mexico.
The investigation revealed that Maldonado-Bustos allegedly directed harvesting gum from opium fields procured chemicals process gum into heroin supplied Camacho-Goicochea other conspirators Mexico with heroin import cities United States including Atlanta Houston further revealed Camacho-Goicochea allegedly coordinated collection return drug proceeds United States back Mexico early 2017 agents seized over $580000 drug proceeds vehicles homes Atlanta area ultimately destined cartel Mexico
Rodolfo Maldonado-Bustos also known Don Jose 59 Euclides Camacho-Goicochea also known El Quilles 51 both Guerrero Mexico charged conspiracy possess intent distribute heroin conspiracy import heroin United States Camacho-Goicochea also charged conspiracy launder monetary instruments indictments returned August 2017 recently unsealed
DEA IRS-CI investigated case Assistant US Attorney Rebeca Ojeda Northern District Georgia prosecuting case against Camacho-Goicochea Maldonado-Bustos Assistant US Attorney Laurel Milam Northern District Georgia Assistant US Attorney Nicholas Hartigan Eastern District North Carolina provided valuable assistance investigation
This prosecution part Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces OCDETF Strike Force Initiative provides establishment permanent multi-agency task force teams work side-by-side same location co-located model enables agents different agencies collaborate intelligence-driven multi-jurisdictional operations disrupt dismantle most significant drug traffickers money launderers gangs transnational criminal organizations specific mission David G Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force Strike Force degrade dismantle major drug trafficking money laundering organizations Atlanta metropolitan area Northern District Georgia accomplish mission Strike Force target organizations leaders focusing targets designated Consolidated Priority Organization Targets CPOTs Regional Priority Organization Targets RPOTs associates Atlanta Strike Force comprised agents officers ATF DEA FBI HSI USMS USPIS IRS numerous state local agencies prosecution led Office US Attorney Northern District Georgia indictment merely allegation defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court law