Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN DIEGO – Three fugitives transferred from Mexico facing a range of federal charges made their initial appearances today in federal court in the Southern District of California. Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, also known as “Flaquito,” Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum also known as “El Chavo Félix,” and Abdul Karim Conteh, were transferred on August 12th from Mexico to the United States pursuant to Mexico’s National Security law. They were among more than two dozen wanted fugitives facing a wide array of federal and state charges arraigned today all around the country.
At today’s hearing, Huerta Nuno, Felix Gastelum, and Conteh were arraigned and entered not guilty pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie E. Torres. Huerta Nuno’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 19th, for a motion hearing/trial setting in front of U.S. District Court Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro. Felix Gastelum’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 12th, for a motion hearing/trial setting in front of U.S. District Court Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant. Conteh’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 19th, for a motion hearing/trial setting in front of U.S. District Court Chief Judge Janis L. Sammartino.
Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, also known as “Flaquito,” is alleged to be a violent Tijuana Plaza boss who has operated with impunity during the last 15 years. Huerta-Nuno is alleged to have supplied thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to distributors and cells located throughout San Diego and Los Angeles. In return, millions of dollars in narcotics proceeds were delivered to him and his organization via shipments of bulk cash from San Diego into Tijuana.
Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum also known as “El Chavo Félix,” is alleged to be a major Sinaloa Cartel cell leader and son-in-law to former Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. He is additionally alleged to be a principal operator of the Sinaloa Cartel’s clandestine methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories located in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Sinaloa and Durango, Mexico involved in the manufacturing and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into the United States.
Abdul Karim Conteh allegedly led a human smuggling organization that smuggled thousands of migrants to the United States through Mexico. These smuggled migrants originated from countries around the world, including Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Somalia, Cameroon, Senegal, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Egypt, and others. The migrants paid smuggling fees, often tens of thousands of dollars. Conteh allegedly oversaw the migrants’ unlawful entry into the United States by various surreptitious and unlawful means, including the use of ladders and tunnels.
“Those who export dangerous drugs and smuggle aliens to the United States while seeking to evade capture will find no place to hide,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today is a win, but justice is not satisfied. The work of the Homeland Security Task Forces ensures that the indictment of high-level targets will remain a top priority nationally, but especially, in the Southern District of California.”
“The capture of Pablo Edwin Huerta-Nuno, one of the Cartel Arellano Felix’s (CAF) most violent leaders, is a testament to the FBI’s commitment of getting violent criminals off our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “Huerta-Nuno wreaked havoc for years while trafficking drugs, laundering money and engaging in unspeakable violent acts across our border. The FBI will continue to put all our resources into our mission of keeping our citizens safe.”
“Drug traffickers prey on our communities spreading violence and fear,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jake Galvan. “Justice is not optional, and justice has a long reach. We will continue to pursue, arrest, and bring to justice those who profit from drug trafficking. These arrests are a step toward a safer future.”
“Cartel-driven drug trafficking poses a threat to the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego Field Office. “The capture of Pablo Edwin Huerta-Nuno is one step forward in our united effort to dismantle these criminal networks and bring those responsible to justice.”
“Mr. Huerta Nuño is accused of being a member of and a money launderer for a narcotics trafficking organization, who is hellbent on pushing deadly drugs into American households,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS-CI stands steadfast with our law enforcement partners to combat violent narcotics traffickers, and we will leverage our unique skillset to follow the money to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations who bring death into American communities on a daily basis.”
“The capture of Abdul Karim Conteh is a clear example of how strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies can make our communities safer,” said Acting Chief Jeffrey Stalnaker of the U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector. “We will continue working together to ensure that those who break the law are held accountable”.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Sutton, Joshua Mellor, Robert J. Miller, and Francisco Nagel and the Conteh case is also being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Sausedo contributed significantly to the cases.
DEFENDANTS
Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno Age: 33 Mexico 25cr1761-RBM
Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum Age: 42 Mexico 22cr2262-TWR
Abdul Karim Conteh Age: 41 Sierra Leone 24cr1059-JLS
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno
International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances for Purpose of Unlawful Importation, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 959, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. 1956(h). Term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved.
Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum
International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances for Purpose of Unlawful Importation, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 959, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
Abdul Karim Conteh
Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens at a Place Other Than Designated Port of Entry – Title 8, U.S.C., Secs. 1324(a)(1)(A)(i) and (v)(I) – Term of custody including a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gains – Title 8, U.S.C., Sec. 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii). Term of custody includes a mandatory minimum of 3 years in prison and a maximum of 15 years in prison.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
FBI
DEA
HSI
IRS-CI
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Marshals Service
Office of Enforcement Operations of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division
Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs
INTERPOL
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The Conteh case is a result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, Districts of Arizona and New Mexico and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 405 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling, more than 355 U.S. convictions, and more than 305 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.