Three alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, KEVIN GIL ACOSTA, also known as “El 200,” MARTIN ZAZUETA PEREZ, known as “Piyi,” and LEOBARDO GARCIA CORRALES, called “Leo,” arrived in the Southern District of New York from Mexico on August 12, 2025. The three men face charges related to fentanyl trafficking and weapons offenses tied to their roles within the cartel. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo and were detained.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated: “The illicit fentanyl trade continues to plague Americans and New Yorkers of all walks of life, and the Sinaloa Cartel, a vast, deadly, and corrupt enterprise, is at the center of the scourge. The defendants allegedly held leading roles, using abhorrent violence to protect the Cartel. Their arrival yesterday in the United States to face justice in a U.S. courtroom is another major step in the partnership between our Office and the DEA to end the operations of the Sinaloa Cartel.”
According to allegations outlined in indictments and other court documents, the Sinaloa Cartel operates globally with a base in Sinaloa state, Mexico. It is described as one of the main drug trafficking organizations responsible for bringing large amounts of fentanyl into the United States. This activity has contributed to violence and deaths on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
To secure its fentanyl trafficking business, cartel leaders—specifically Joaquin Guzman Loera’s sons (the “Chapitos”)—have used armed enforcers called sicarios who use military-grade weapons smuggled from the United States for violent acts including murder and kidnapping.
GIL ACOSTA was identified as a leader among these sicarios tasked with protecting fentanyl labs operated by Chapitos affiliates while personally handling distribution routes for fentanyl produced there. ZAZUETA PEREZ reportedly provided security for these operations through means such as kidnapping or murder using machine guns and other weapons; he is accused of participating alongside GIL ACOSTA in attacks against Mexican officials during an October 2019 attempt by authorities to arrest one of Guzman Loera’s sons.
GARCIA CORRALES allegedly supplied fentanyl on behalf of or in coordination with cartel members. He is said to have managed production at scale—producing tons—and oversaw shipments into the United States. Prosecutors claim he conspired with others to exchange large quantities of fentanyl for military-grade weapons intended to further his drug operations.
All three defendants were transferred from Mexico under that country’s National Security law as part of a group that included more than two dozen wanted fugitives facing various criminal charges across federal and state levels.
The indictment lists charges including conspiracy to import fentanyl (carrying mandatory minimum sentences), possession and conspiracy related to machine guns or destructive devices (with some counts carrying minimum sentences up to 30 years), along with additional counts specific to each defendant where applicable.
“The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in these cases are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge,” according to information released by prosecutors.
Jay Clayton praised efforts by several agencies including DEA Special Operations Division units based both domestically and internationally—as well as support from Justice Department offices like International Affairs—the U.S. Marshals Service—and Mexican government authorities.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley, Jane Y. Chong, Sarah L. Kushner, and David J. Robles from SDNY’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.
Prosecutors note that all charges are allegations at this stage; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
