A high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel, Emmanuel Martimiano Leon-Soto, was sentenced on May 1 to 336 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride. He also received a concurrent sentence of 240 months for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentencing took place in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina before Chief/Senior United States District Judge Catherine C. Eagles.
Leon-Soto, age 42 and a Mexican national from Naco, Mexico, was charged alongside 37 others by a federal grand jury in November 2024. Authorities described him as a high-ranking cartel figure who used multiple aliases and played a key role in distributing large quantities of drugs into the United States. He was one of ten defendants also charged with laundering proceeds from drug trafficking.
Prior to his indictment, Leon-Soto had been designated as a Regional Priority Target by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program. The Sinaloa Cartel is recognized as one of the world's most powerful drug cartels and has been labeled both a foreign terrorist organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
"Mexican Cartel kingpins poisoning America will face justice in every judicial district in our country. Leon-Soto and his co-conspirators distributed staggering amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in our district and beyond," said Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. "The sentencing represents the culmination of a broad collaboration of law enforcement partners determined to disrupt and dismantle Sinaloa Cartel operations in our homeland. Be assured we will continue to use all available resources to attack the criminal organizations that flood our streets with dangerous drugs." Rodney M. Hopkins added: "Today marks a significant victory for the many law enforcement agencies that worked together to dismantle this organization... This success is a direct result of strong collaboration among our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners." Mark M. Zito said: "This arrest strikes at the heart of a cartel network responsible for flooding our communities with deadly drugs... We will continue to dismantle criminal organizations and protect the public from devastation caused by fentanyl and other narcotics." Jae W. Chung stated: "Today’s sentence underscores our unwavering commitment to bringing drug traffickers to justice... We will continue to target those who threaten safety." Donald “Trey” Eakins commented: "This sentencing sends a strong message... Our special agents utilize their financial expertise ... tracing illicit financial activity." Catrina A. Thompson concluded: "The Marshals are committed ... taking criminals off streets ... helping reduce availability of dangerous drugs ... make all communities safer."
Multiple agencies participated in investigating this case including U.S Postal Inspection Service; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S Drug Enforcement Administration; IRS Criminal Investigation; FBI; U.S Marshals Service; several North Carolina county sheriff's offices; police departments across North Carolina as well as Arizona.
This prosecution is part of an initiative under Executive Order 14159 aimed at eliminating criminal cartels operating within or outside U.S borders through interagency cooperation led by Homeland Security Task Force.
