GREENSBORO — A Mexican national and high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was arrested Tuesday, April 22, in Nogales, Arizona, after being indicted for allegedly helping lead a large drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy according to the U.S. Attorney of the Middle District of N.C.

Emmanuel Martimiano Leon-Soto, 42, of Naco, Mexico, was the last of 38 total individuals charged in November 2024 with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine hydrochloride. All individuals were charged by a federal grand jury seated in the Middle District of North Carolina.

Leon-Soto also goes by the names Manny, Jose Manuel Lopez-Castro, Jesus Lopez Castro, Pedro Beltran Zazueta, Pedro Zazueta Beltran, Emmanuel Gomez, Emanuel Leon, Emanuel Leon-Soto, Manuel Leon Soto, Jose Manuel Lopez Castro and Emanuel Pena Gomez. He is among 10 defendants who were also charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking scheme.

Prior to his indictment, Leon-Soto was designated as a Regional Priority Target (RPOT) by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. He is a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel (also known as Cartel de Sinaloa, Mexican Federation and Guadalajara Cartel), which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Cártel de Sinaloa is one of the world’s most powerful drug cartels and one of the largest producers involved in the smuggling, importation and distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States.

Investigating agencies included the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, Candor Police Department, Mesa (Arizona) Police Department, Davie County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Drug Task Force, Mooresville Police Department, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and Surry County Sheriff’s Office.

“The arrest of Leon-Soto is a significant development in our case against this organization, which is responsible for trafficking large quantities of narcotics to our district and throughout the United States,” said Randall S. Galyon, Acting United States attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. “This prosecution is a testament to the power of collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement through the OCDETF program, and we thank all the investigating agencies for their tireless commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that threaten the safety and security of our community.”

“Today’s arrest should send a strong message to anyone who thinks they can further their criminal drug enterprise through the U.S. Mail and remain anonymous — that will never happen,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, inspector in charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Postal inspectors will vigorously pursue you and bring you to justice, keeping the communities we serve and the mailstream safe for USPS employees and customers.”

“Today’s arrest is the direct result of the hard work and collaboration between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and our law enforcement partners,” said Cardell T. Morant, special agent in charge of HSI Charlotte, which oversees North and South Carolina. “Leon-Sotos’ criminal activity, combined with his leadership role in the Sinaloa Cartel, makes him a significant threat to the safety of the American people. This extensive investigation highlights HSI’s unwavering commitment to protect our country and communities from the dangers of illegal narcotics. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure dangerous drug trafficking organizations are disrupted and held accountable for their crimes.”

“These drug traffickers endangered countless lives by distributing large quantities of deadly fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine,” Jae W. Chung, the acting special Agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta Division commented on the case. “Driven by greed, these defendants had total disregard for their actions that far too often have tragic consequences.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation continues to aggressively pursue complicit operators and facilitators to break up fentanyl networks,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents will use their authorities and financial expertise to work alongside our partner agencies while following the money to stop those who profit from deadly fentanyl sales in the United States.”

If convicted, Leon-Soto faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the drug conspiracy, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

As of today, 32 of the 38 defendants charged in this case have pled guilty to each of the counts against them and are awaiting sentencing.

This prosecution is part of an OCDETF investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Pryor is prosecuting the case.