Tara K. McGrath, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California
Octavio Leal-Hernandez, known as Chapito Leal and an alleged leader of a Sinaloa Cartel cell, appeared in a San Diego federal court following his extradition from Mexico. Leal-Hernandez faces charges for trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana into the United States.
In May 2020, he was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of California on charges of international conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. During his court appearance, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major arraigned him and accepted his not-guilty plea. The judge also granted the government's request to hold him without bond until trial. A motion hearing is set for March 10, 2025.
A government memorandum describes Leal-Hernandez as a key figure within the Sinaloa Cartel's Beltran-Leyva faction. He is associated with Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, known as Chapo Isidro. Meza Flores is identified by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control as a Foreign Narcotics Kingpin.
Intercepted communications between January and April 2012 revealed Leal-Hernandez's leadership role in organizing drug trafficking activities from Tijuana to Southern California and other areas in the United States. Investigations continued until his arrest in 2020 confirmed his position within the cartel.
The detention memorandum outlines that Leal-Hernandez managed large shipments of drugs from Tijuana into the United States and coordinated their distribution across various locations.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath stated: “This appearance in an American court is the result of our unwavering pursuit of those who perpetuate violence and push narcotics into our communities.”
Shawn Gibson from Homeland Security Investigations highlighted this as "a significant victory" against narcotics trafficking due to joint efforts with federal law enforcement partners.
DEA Special Agent Brian Clark remarked: “Drug traffickers are predators that must be held accountable for the harm they cause.”
Stacey Moy from FBI San Diego emphasized continued collaboration to ensure community safety against international drug traffickers' actions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Mellor is prosecuting this case after the U.S. Marshals Service completed Leal-Hernandez's transfer to California.
Leal-Hernandez faces charges including International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances with penalties ranging up to life imprisonment.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Strike Force Initiative supports this prosecution by enabling multi-agency collaboration on significant drug-related cases.
