Servando Corona Penaloza, a Mexican national and Georgia state prison inmate, was sentenced on April 29 to 25 years in federal prison for leading an international drug and firearms trafficking ring. Fourteen others involved in the organization have also been convicted and sentenced, with two more awaiting sentencing in the coming months.
The case is significant because it disrupted a major pipeline of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and military-style firearms between Georgia and Mexico. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia prioritized prosecution of threats such as terrorism, human trafficking, and civil rights violations to serve the community, according to the official website.
“These defendants flooded our community with deadly drugs and used the proceeds of their drug deals to arm narco-terrorist Mexican cartels with high-powered weapons of war,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result of the exceptional and dedicated work by our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners under the auspices of Atlanta’s Homeland Security Task Force, there are no more drugs coming in—or firearms going out—at Corona Penaloza’s direction.”
According to Hertzberg's office, agents from multiple agencies identified that over 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine were distributed under Corona Penaloza's direction while he served a state sentence using contraband cell phones. Investigators also found that at least 223 firearms worth over $700,000 were purchased with narcotics proceeds for smuggling into Mexico.
“This investigation reflects strong coordination among agencies at every level. Through that collaboration, we disrupted a dangerous operation and enhanced the safety of our communities,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia enforced federal criminal laws while collaborating with law enforcement to protect public safety according to its official website. The district serves as principal federal law enforcement agency across north Georgia mountains through Atlanta suburbs bordering Alabama and Carolinas as reported by its official website.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold III, Dwayne A. Brown Jr., Bethany L. Rupert; Nicholas Evert assisted judicial forfeiture proceedings involving seized firearms and drug proceeds.
“These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159,” noted officials in their statement about interagency efforts targeting criminal cartels operating within United States borders.
