WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned more than a dozen individuals and entities, comprising two distinct networks, linked to the terrorist Sinaloa Cartel and its fentanyl trafficking activities.
Armando de Jesus Ojeda Aviles (Ojeda Aviles) leads a network involved in laundering the proceeds of fentanyl and other narcotics trafficking activities on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel. Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas (Gonzalez Penuelas), a fugitive from justice, heads a longstanding organization involved in trafficking illicit drugs into the United States and laundering funds for the Sinaloa Cartel. The violent Sinaloa Cartel is a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) responsible for a significant portion of the illicit fentanyl trafficked into the United States that kills tens of thousands of Americans each year.
“As President Trump has made clear, this Administration will not allow narco-terrorists to flood our borders with poison,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Treasury will continue to target terrorist cartels and their fentanyl trafficking networks to protect our communities and Keep America Safe.”
Today’s action reflects the culmination of a coordinated Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF)-led investigation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). OFAC works in close coordination with the HSTFs, which target the proliferation of illicit drugs and the networks, enablers, and financial mechanisms that support their production and distribution. These sanctions were further coordinated with the Government of Mexico’s financial intelligence unit, the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera.
OFAC sanctioned the persons in this action pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets the proliferation of illicit drugs and their means of production, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists and their supporters.
BLOODLINE OF A CARTEL: LOS CHAPITOS AND FENTANYL FLOWS
The terrorist Sinaloa Cartel is one of the oldest and most powerful cartels in Mexico and represents a major threat to the United States. The Sinaloa Cartel was identified by the United States as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker on April 15, 2009 pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). On December 15, 2021, OFAC also designated the Sinaloa Cartel pursuant to E.O. 14059. The Sinaloa Cartel has trafficked fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illicit drugs into the United States and engaged in widespread violence. On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State designated the Sinaloa Cartel as an FTO and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
Collectively referred to as Los Chapitos, the four sons of incarcerated Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera —Archivaldo Ivan Guzman Salazar (Ivan), Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar (Alfredo), Ovidio Guzman Lopez (Ovidio), and Joaquin Guzman Lopez (Joaquin)—consolidated control over, and assumed leadership of, the Sinaloa Cartel following their father’s capture, extradition, and conviction in the United States on drug trafficking charges.
Although Ovidio and Joaquin are now in U.S. custody, Ivan and Alfredo remain at large and lead the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. This faction’s dominance over fentanyl trafficking is largely the result of its capacity to procure precursor chemicals, while also controlling production via its secret laboratories in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Since September 2024, turf wars between Los Chapitos and its rivals have engulfed Sinaloa, resulting in the deaths of over 600 people. Ivan and Alfredo were previously designated on May 8, 2012 and June 7, 2012 pursuant to the Kingpin Act, in 2021 pursuant to E.O. 14059, and in June 2025 pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. On June 9, 2025, OFAC designated Los Chapitos pursuant to counterterrorism and counternarcotics authorities.
BREAKING THE BLOCKCHAIN: SINALOA CARTEL-LINKED CRYPTO LAUNDERING NETWORK
Operating from Sinaloa, Mexico, Armando de Jesus Ojeda Aviles (Ojeda Aviles) is the head of a network involved in laundering the illicit proceeds of the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug trafficking activities, including from illicit fentanyl sales. He is affiliated with Los Chapitos. Specifically, Ojeda Aviles has coordinated the collection of bulk quantities of cash in the United States—the proceeds of fentanyl and other illicit drug sales. He then facilitates the conversion of this bulk cash into cryptocurrency for ultimate transfer to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.
Ojeda Aviles took over as the primary launderer for Los Chapitos after the murder of Mario Alberto Jimenez Castro, whom OFAC designated on September 26, 2023, citing Jimenez Castro’s use of digital currency and wire transfers, among other methods, to transfer proceeds from illicit fentanyl sales in the United States to Sinaloa Cartel leaders in Mexico. In addition to laundering drug proceeds, Ojeda Aviles is also directly involved in overseeing shipments of narcotics into the United States, including illicit fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Ojeda Aviles’s network is composed of Mexico-based drug suppliers, as well as U.S.-based couriers who conduct money pickups.
A close associate of Ojeda Aviles, Jesus Alonso Aispuro Felix (Aispuro Felix) is the chief money broker for this drug trafficking and money laundering network. He is responsible for brokering bulk transfers of drug proceeds through digital currency addresses.
Rodrigo Alarcon Palomares (Alarcon Palomares) is also an associate of Ojeda Aviles and has facilitated money pickups in the United States on behalf of the network. In addition, in April 2024, a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado returned an indictment against Alarcon Palomares for three counts of laundering drug proceeds through cryptocurrency. Alarcon Palomares has also been involved in narcotics sales in the United States. In October 2023, Alarcon Palomares was found in possession of weapons and ammunition and detained in Mexico.
Businessman Alfredo Orozco Romero serves as a security advisor to Ojeda Aviles and acts as a debt collector for money owed on cocaine shipments. Alfredo Orozco Romero controls a Mexican security company, Grupo Especial Mamba Negra, S. de R.L. De C.V., and a Mexican restaurant based in Chihuahua, Mexico, Gorditas Chiwas, through his family members, Amalia Margarita Romero Moreno and Liliana Orozco Romero, who act as his trusted front persons.
OFAC designated Ojeda Aviles and Aispuro Felix pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, the Sinaloa Cartel. They are also being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Sinaloa Cartel. OFAC designated Alarcon Palomares pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. OFAC designated Alfredo Orozco Romero for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, Ojeda Aviles. He is also being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Ojeda Aviles. Finally, OFAC designated Grupo Especial Mamba Negra, S. de R.L. De C.V., Gorditas Chiwas, Amalia Margarita Romero Moreno, and Liliana Orozco Romero pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Alfredo Orozco Romero.
EXPOSING A TRUSTED SINALOA CARTEL MONEY LAUNDERING NETWORK
Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas (Gonzalez Penuelas) has been responsible for the production and distribution of methamphetamine and heroin to the United States since 2007 and is also a major distributor of cocaine and fentanyl. Gonzalez Penuelas was indicted out of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in 2017 and the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado in 2018 on international drug trafficking charges. In January 2024, DEA offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Gonzalez Penuelas. Shortly after, the U.S. Department of State offered a similar reward. As a cell leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, Gonzalez Penuelas operates primarily in Sinaloa, Mexico with U.S.-based distribution cells in California, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Utah, and Nevada. Treasury previously sanctioned Gonzalez Penuelas pursuant to the Kingpin Act on May 12, 2021.
Castulo Bojorquez Chaparro (Bojorquez Chaparro), a close associate of Gonzalez Penuelas, has been involved in the production and distribution of illicit drugs to the United States on behalf of Gonzalez Penuelas. Fredi Ismael Garcia Sandoval (Garcia Sandoval) and Bojorquez Chaparro utilize businesses in Mexico to launder narcotics proceeds on behalf of Gonzalez Penuelas.
Luis Arnulfo Moreno Zamora (Moreno Zamora) and Baltazar Saenz Aguilar (Saenz Aguilar) oversee the laundering of drug proceeds and are also responsible for the movement of bulk cash from the United States to Mexico on behalf of Gonzalez Penuelas.
Noe de Jesus Castro Rocha (Castro Rocha) is a long-time drug trafficking associate of Gonzalez Penuelas, responsible for trafficking cocaine and heroin to the United States on his behalf.
OFAC designated Gonzalez Penuelas pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Sinaloa Cartel. OFAC designated Bojorquez Chaparro, Garcia Sandoval, Moreno Zamora, Saenz Aguilar, and Castro Rocha pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Gonzalez Penuelas.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.
Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. Individuals located in the United States or abroad who provide information about sanctions violations to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN) whistleblower incentive program may be eligible for awards if the information they provide leads to a successful enforcement action that results in monetary penalties exceeding $1,000,000.
Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC’s guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List.
Click here for more information on the persons designated today.
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