Three individuals transferred from Mexico to the United States appeared in federal court in San Diego, facing a variety of federal charges. Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, known as “Flaquito,” Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum, known as “El Chavo Félix,” and Abdul Karim Conteh were brought to the U.S. on August 12 under Mexico’s National Security law. They are among more than two dozen fugitives arraigned across the country.
During their initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie E. Torres, all three entered not guilty pleas. The next hearing for Huerta Nuno is set for September 19 before U.S. District Court Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro; Felix Gastelum will appear on September 12 before Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant; and Conteh’s next hearing is scheduled for September 19 with Chief Judge Janis L. Sammartino.
Authorities allege that Huerta Nuno has been a Tijuana Plaza boss for 15 years, supplying large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to distributors in San Diego and Los Angeles and receiving millions of dollars in drug proceeds sent from San Diego into Tijuana.
Felix Gastelum is alleged to be a Sinaloa Cartel cell leader and son-in-law of former cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. He reportedly operated clandestine methamphetamine labs in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Sinaloa and Durango, producing drugs distributed from Mexico into the United States.
Conteh allegedly led an organization smuggling thousands of migrants from countries including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Somalia, Cameroon, Senegal, Ethiopia, Egypt and others through Mexico into the United States using various illegal methods such as ladders and tunnels.
“Those who export dangerous drugs and smuggle aliens to the United States while seeking to evade capture will find no place to hide,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today is a win, but justice is not satisfied. The work of the Homeland Security Task Forces ensures that the indictment of high-level targets will remain a top priority nationally, but especially, in the Southern District of California.”
“The capture of Pablo Edwin Huerta-Nuno, one of the Cartel Arellano Felix’s (CAF) most violent leaders, is a testament to the FBI’s commitment of getting violent criminals off our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “Huerta-Nuno wreaked havoc for years while trafficking drugs, laundering money and engaging in unspeakable violent acts across our border. The FBI will continue to put all our resources into our mission of keeping our citizens safe.”
“Drug traffickers prey on our communities spreading violence and fear,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jake Galvan. “Justice is not optional, and justice has a long reach. We will continue to pursue, arrest, and bring to justice those who profit from drug trafficking. These arrests are a step toward a safer future.”
“Cartel-driven drug trafficking poses a threat to the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego Field Office. “The capture of Pablo Edwin Huerta-Nuno is one step forward in our united effort to dismantle these criminal networks and bring those responsible to justice.”
“Mr. Huerta Nuño is accused of being a member of and a money launderer for a narcotics trafficking organization, who is hellbent on pushing deadly drugs into American households,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS-CI stands steadfast with our law enforcement partners to combat violent narcotics traffickers, and we will leverage our unique skillset to follow the money to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations who bring death into American communities on a daily basis.”
“The capture of Abdul Karim Conteh is a clear example of how strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies can make our communities safer,” said Acting Chief Jeffrey Stalnaker of the U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector. “We will continue working together to ensure that those who break the law are held accountable”.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Sutton, Joshua Mellor, Robert J. Miller and Francisco Nagel; Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman also participates in prosecuting Conteh's case.
Charges against Huerta Nuno include international conspiracy related to controlled substances distribution/importation carrying mandatory minimum sentences up to life imprisonment or significant fines; he also faces conspiracy charges involving money laundering which could result in up to 20 years’ imprisonment or financial penalties based on amounts involved.
Felix Gastelum faces similar charges relating specifically to international conspiracy regarding controlled substances importation/distribution with comparable sentencing guidelines.
Conteh faces charges tied primarily with human smuggling activities—conspiracy at non-designated ports carries up ten years’ maximum imprisonment while bringing aliens for financial gain brings three-15 year terms depending on circumstances.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: FBI; DEA; HSI; IRS-CI; Customs & Border Protection; Border Patrol; Marshals Service; Justice Department offices including International Affairs/Enforcement Operations/Criminal Division as well as INTERPOL.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty according to legal standards.
These prosecutions fall under Operation Take Back America—a Department Of Justice initiative combining resources like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) & Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The operation aims at combating illegal immigration along with eliminating cartels/transnational crime groups affecting public safety nationwide by focusing enforcement actions within jurisdictions such as Southern District Of California.
Additionally,Joint Task Force Alpha was instrumental particularly regarding human smuggling investigations leading up these arrests: JTFA operates across several Central American countries targeting transnational crime organizations involved with migrant movement/trafficking activities—resulting so far over 405 domestic/international arrests plus hundreds convictions/jail sentences.
