In an ongoing operation against international drug trafficking, a federal grand jury in Atlanta has indicted seven individuals linked to a Mexico-based trafficker. The charges pertain to a drug and money laundering ring. The defendants, including five individuals from Norcross, Georgia—Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel, Karina Beatriz Perez Hernandez, David Miranda Vinalay, Jerome Lewis, and Irving Joel Hernandez—were arrested on April 15, 2025. The arrests were the result of a joint effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation unit, and local law enforcement agencies.
"Thanks to the great investigative work of our federal partners and local law enforcement, five individuals working on behalf of the violent JNGC cartel have been taken off our streets," commented Attorney General Pamela Bondi. She added, "We will not allow these criminal enterprises to continue profiting off of the death and destruction of American lives."
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. stated that the defendants are accused of trafficking hazardous substances like fentanyl into the community and laundering over $1 million in illicit funds over two months for a Mexico-based trafficker. "Although these individuals took great measures to conceal their alleged criminal conduct, a determined and coordinated effort by our federal and local law enforcement partners helped to secure the federal charges in this case," he said.
The DEA's Atlanta Division Acting Special Agent in Charge, Jae W. Chung, emphasized the seriousness of fentanyl's impact, stating, "The deadly impact of fentanyl on our communities is devastating." Chung added that these arrests are a warning to traffickers that public safety is a top priority.
Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in the Atlanta Field Office, noted their efforts to follow the money trail despite the criminals' attempts at concealment. "IRS Criminal Investigation special agents in partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies, will continue our work investigating and holding accountable those responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our communities," he stated.
According to court information, the DEA discovered a scheme in September 2024 involving traffickers delivering drug sale proceeds to a middleman in Norcross. The funds were then allegedly handed over to Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel and Karina Beatriz Perez Hernandez, who managed a money service operation called "La Pulga Esperanza" in Norcross and laundered the money to Mexico in small amounts to avoid detection.
The DEA identified key players in the operation as members or associates of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Furthermore, some traffickers allegedly had methamphetamine and fentanyl intended for distribution within the organization.
It's important to note that the indictment consists solely of charges, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
This case, part of the "Operation Take Back America" initiative, is under investigation by the DEA and IRS Criminal Investigation with support from various local law enforcement agencies. The operation is a segment of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) that targets top-tier criminal organizations in the U.S.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Dwayne A. Brown, Jr. are spearheading the prosecution. For further details, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office.
