United States Attorney Tara K. McGrath | U.S. Department of Justice
A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a senior member of the Sinaloa Cartel on charges related to drug manufacturing and importation. The indictment, issued in the Northern District of Illinois, names Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, 44, as a principal advisor and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar. Salazar and his brothers allegedly lead a faction of the cartel following their father Joaquin Guzman Loera's imprisonment.
The indictment accuses Canobbio Inzunza of collaborating with the "Chapitos" — as Salazar and his brothers are known — to produce cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico for distribution in the United States. He is also alleged to have led an armed group called "Los Chimales," which provided security for this faction and facilitated drug importation into the U.S. The Chapitos have faced other indictments in the past year within the U.S.
Canobbio Inzunza faces charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the U.S., carrying a potential life sentence if convicted. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on various legal guidelines.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri announced these developments alongside officials from multiple law enforcement agencies involved in investigating this case. These include Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for Northern Illinois, U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath for Southern California, FBI leaders David Sundberg and Stacey Moy, and HSI Arizona's Francisco B. Burrola.
Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich from the Criminal Division’s Narcotic Section is prosecuting along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine, Michelle Parthum from Illinois, and Matthew Sutton from California.
This case forms part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aiming to dismantle significant criminal networks through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies.
It should be noted that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
