A Mexican cartel member will reportedly spend the remainder of his days behind bars for his part in the Sinaloa Cartel's narcotics distribution operations.
According to a March 3 news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the West District of Texas, Arturo Shows Urquidi, 50, of Juarez, was convicted of federal conspiracy counts related to his role in trafficking cocaine and marijuana and other drug trafficking crimes.
“Investigating and prosecuting members of dangerous transnational criminal organizations remains a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas,” Attorney Ashley Hoff said. “This sentence is a significant step in holding the members of the Sinaloa Cartel accountable for the crimes they have committed for years. The prosecution of this case clearly demonstrates how strong cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies can effectively combat the illegal activity of transnational criminal organizations.”
Urquidi, also known as Chous, was convicted in October 2021 in EL Paso and had one count for possessing marijuana and cocaine, one count for conspiracy to import marijuana and cocaine, one for conspiracy to launder money, one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization statute.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Urquidi was the security of some stash houses where they moved thousands of kilograms of cocaine and weapons headed to Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Urquidi, a former police officer for the city of Chihuahua, will serve life in prison for his crimes.
