Three fugitives who were transferred from Mexico to the United States have been arraigned in federal court in San Diego. Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, also known as “Flaquito,” Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum, also known as “El Chavo Félix,” and Abdul Karim Conteh appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie E. Torres and entered not guilty pleas. Their transfers took place on August 12 under Mexico’s National Security law.
The three are among more than two dozen fugitives facing various federal and state charges across the country. Each defendant has upcoming court dates: Huerta Nuno is scheduled for a motion hearing and trial setting on September 19 before U.S. District Court Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro; Felix Gastelum will appear on September 12 before Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant; Conteh’s next appearance is set for September 19 before Chief Judge Janis L. Sammartino.
Huerta Nuno is alleged to be a Tijuana Plaza boss involved in supplying large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to distributors in San Diego and Los Angeles over the past 15 years. Authorities allege that millions of dollars in drug proceeds were sent from San Diego into Tijuana.
Felix Gastelum is described as a major Sinaloa Cartel cell leader and son-in-law to former cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. He allegedly operated clandestine methamphetamine labs in Sinaloa and Durango, Mexico, manufacturing drugs for distribution into the United States.
Conteh is accused of leading a human smuggling organization that brought thousands of migrants from countries including Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Somalia, Cameroon, Senegal, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Egypt and others through Mexico into the United States using various illegal methods such as ladders and tunnels.
“Those who export dangerous drugs and smuggle aliens to the United States while seeking to evade capture will find no place to hide,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today is a win, but justice is not satisfied. The work of the Homeland Security Task Forces ensures that the indictment of high-level targets will remain a top priority nationally, but especially, in the Southern District of California.”
“The capture of Pablo Edwin Huerta-Nuno, one of the Cartel Arellano Felix’s (CAF) most violent leaders, is a testament to the FBI’s commitment of getting violent criminals off our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “Huerta-Nuno wreaked havoc for years while trafficking drugs, laundering money and engaging in unspeakable violent acts across our border. The FBI will continue to put all our resources into our mission of keeping our citizens safe.”
“Drug traffickers prey on our communities spreading violence and fear,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jake Galvan. “Justice is not optional, and justice has a long reach. We will continue to pursue, arrest, and bring to justice those who profit from drug trafficking. These arrests are a step toward a safer future.”
“Cartel-driven drug trafficking poses a threat to the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego Field Office. “The capture of Pablo Edwin Huerta-Nuno is one step forward in our united effort to dismantle these criminal networks and bring those responsible to justice.”
“Mr. Huerta Nuño is accused of being a member of and a money launderer for a narcotics trafficking organization, who is hellbent on pushing deadly drugs into American households,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS-CI stands steadfast with our law enforcement partners to combat violent narcotics traffickers, and we will leverage our unique skillset to follow the money to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations who bring death into American communities on a daily basis.”
“The capture of Abdul Karim Conteh is a clear example of how strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies can make our communities safer,” said Acting Chief Jeffrey Stalnaker of the U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector. “We will continue working together to ensure that those who break the law are held accountable”.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Sutton, Joshua Mellor, Robert J. Miller and Francisco Nagel are prosecuting these cases; Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman from Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) at DOJ Criminal Division joins them for Conteh’s case.
Charges against Huerta Nuno include international conspiracy related to distributing controlled substances with mandatory minimum sentences ranging up to life imprisonment or fines up $10 million per count; he also faces conspiracy charges involving money laundering with potential prison terms up to 20 years or significant financial penalties.
Felix Gastelum faces similar drug-related conspiracy charges carrying mandatory minimums up through life imprisonment or fines up $10 million per count.
Conteh faces conspiracy charges related both bringing aliens at non-designated ports—carrying possible maximums up through ten years—and bringing aliens for financial gain with mandatory minimums starting at three years’ imprisonment.
Multiple agencies participated in these investigations: FBI; DEA; HSI; IRS-CI; U.S Customs & Border Protection; U.S Border Patrol; U.S Marshals Service; Justice Department’s Office Of International Affairs & Enforcement Operations; INTERPOL.
These cases fall under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department Of Justice initiative focused on fighting illegal immigration & transnational crime by coordinating efforts like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) & Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The prosecution against Conteh stems from Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which brings together DOJ prosecutors along southwest border districts—including Southern District Of California—and leverages support from multiple Justice Department divisions plus DHS/FBI/DEA partners.
To date JTFA reports more than 405 domestic/international arrests related human smuggling operations alongside hundreds convictions & jail sentences.
