A fifth superseding indictment was filed in federal court in Brooklyn on Apr. 17 against Jobanis de Jesus Avila Villadiego, also known as “Chiquito” and “Chiquito Malo,” adding new charges of narcoterrorism conspiracy and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Avila Villadiego, alleged principal leader of the Clan del Golfo (CDG), remains at large.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to address the intersection of drug trafficking and terrorism, which officials say threaten both national security and public safety. The CDG is described as one of the most violent criminal organizations globally, responsible for large-scale cocaine distribution.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., said, “As alleged, Avila Villadiego presides over a vast narcotics empire that floods the United States with cocaine and serves as a financial lifeline for a designated foreign terrorist organization. This prosecution is about more than just seizing drugs; it is about destroying terrorist organizations while simultaneously stopping the flow of deadly drugs and associated violence into the United States.” Nocella also said that law enforcement will continue to pursue Avila Villadiego until he is brought before the American legal system.
FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle stated, “Avila Villadiego allegedly runs a designated foreign terrorist organization responsible for trafficking thousands of kilograms of illicit narcotics into the United States. The FBI and our law enforcement partners on the NY Homeland Security Task Force are determined to defend the nation by stomping out these terrorist groups and holding accountable their leaders, regardless of where they’re hiding.”
According to court filings, under Avila Villadiego’s leadership since October 2021—following former leader Dairo Antonio Úsuga David’s arrest—the CDG has continued multi-ton cocaine shipments from Colombia through Mexico or Central America destined for U.S. markets. The group exerts military control over regions in Colombia using violence against rivals and authorities.
The U.S. Secretary of State designated CDG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on December 17, 2025; despite this designation, prosecutors allege that Avila Villadiego has continued his leadership role within CDG.
This prosecution forms part of broader initiatives like Executive Order 14159's Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), which targets transnational criminal organizations operating domestically or abroad through interagency collaboration involving multiple federal agencies led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern District of New York.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York operates as the designated federal prosecutor's office covering Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, and Suffolk County; it maintains offices in Brooklyn and Central Islip according to its official website. Breon Peace currently leads this office as noted online, which handles both federal crime prosecutions and civil matters representation for its district while supporting community outreach efforts and victim assistance programs.
