Jesus Guzman-Castro, a senior member of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court on charges related to a large-scale cocaine distribution conspiracy. Guzman-Castro, a Mexican citizen also known as “Chuy,” “El Narizon,” and “Pinocho,” was arrested in Mexico following a provisional arrest request from the Eastern District of New York. He was transferred to the United States on August 12, 2025, under Mexico’s National Security Law and ordered detained pending trial.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella, Jr. and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, announced the arraignment.
“As alleged, Guzman-Castro was a senior member of the Sinaloa Cartel, a prolific and violent drug trafficking organization that has flooded American streets with deadly narcotics for decades,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Guzman-Castro will now face justice in a courtroom in the United States for all the harm his actions have wrought. The total elimination of drug cartels is a national priority, and the Department of Justice and our Office are fully committed to carrying out that objective.”
Nocella also acknowledged assistance from several agencies including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina; DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division; DEA’s office in Mexico City; United States Marshals Service; Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs; and the Government of Mexico.
“The arrest and transfer of Jesus Guzman-Castro is the result of the relentless efforts of the DEA and our law enforcement partners to dismantle the most dangerous drug trafficking organizations” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Tarentino. “For decades, Guzman-Castro helped flood American streets with deadly narcotics, and the DEA remains committed to pursuing those who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.”
According to court filings, Guzman-Castro served as a high-ranking member within the Sinaloa Cartel—a group previously led by Ismael Zambada Garcia (“El Mayo”) and Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera (“El Chapo”). Authorities allege he oversaw armed gunmen, transporters, and money launderers while directing thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Guatemala through Mexico into the United States between December 2015 and March 2021. Prosecutors say he managed both trafficking operations and laundering millions in drug proceeds.
The indictment alleges international cocaine distribution conspiracy but notes that Guzman-Castro is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he could face up to life imprisonment.
This prosecution stems from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn alongside DEA agents. The OCDETF program focuses on identifying and dismantling major criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, weapons offenses, or money laundering by leveraging cooperation among multiple law enforcement agencies.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aiming to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), as well as reduce violent crime by coordinating resources across DOJ programs such as OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Wang leads this prosecution within EDNY’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.
Guzman-Castro is 56 years old.
