Siblings Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, alongside Franco Tabares Martinez and their affiliates within the La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) drug cartel, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Georgia. They face charges relating to the manufacture and distribution of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, aware that these substances would be brought into the United States. Additionally, they face charges of conspiracy to import these drugs into the U.S. and intent to distribute them.
Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga, a recognized Consolidated Priority Target by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and his brother Jose Alfredo, remain fugitives and are presumed to be in Mexico. Both were also sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), alongside two other siblings. The U.S. Department of State has announced rewards for information leading to their arrests or convictions.
Franco Tabares Martinez, linked with methamphetamine distribution, and his sister, Guadalupe Tabares Martinez, accused of acting as an Atlanta-based money launderer, face similar legal scrutiny. The latter was charged by a federal grand jury in Georgia with conspiracy to commit international money laundering and operating an unlicensed money services business.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “Today’s indictments and OFAC sanctions against high-ranking LNFM cartel members send a clear message: if you contribute to the death of Americans by peddling poison into our communities, we will work relentlessly to find you and bring you to justice.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. emphasized the alleged role of the cartel in importing drugs, adding, “These federal indictments, in conjunction with the imposition of OFAC sanctions, send a strong message that we will tirelessly investigate, prosecute, and defund individuals around the globe who choose to import deadly drugs into, and risk the lives of the members of, our communities.”
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent indicated efforts to target cartels and violent organizations, stating, “Today’s action underscores our commitment to intensify the pressure on violent drug cartels like LNFM.”
The Department of State's Senior Bureau Official F. Cartwright Weiland reiterated President Trump’s commitment to combat drug trafficking by offering rewards for the Hurtado brothers’ capture, saying, “President Trump has promised to crack down on the flow of deadly drugs into our country.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and their governmental partners continue investigations, enlarged by Operation Take Back America which aims to eliminate cartels and safeguard communities from crimes linked to drug trafficking and money laundering. The operation is a cooperative effort among various federal, state, and local agencies.
Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, Jae W. Chung, and HSI Special Agent in Charge, Steven N. Schrank emphasized the collaborative efforts in the investigation and the commitment to dismantle such criminal organizations.
The case is prosecuted by the Northern District of Georgia's U.S. Attorneys, including Laurel Milam, Bethany Rupert, and Michael Morrison, contributing from the Middle District of Georgia.
In public advisories, parents and children are encouraged to learn about the risks associated with drug use through recommended online resources.