United States Drug Enforcement Administration

EL PASO, Texas – A high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was extradited from Mexico to El Paso, indicted for criminal charges related to his alleged federal racketeering, narcotics, money laundering, firearms, and continuing criminal enterprise offenses.

According to court documents, Daniel Franco Lopez aka “Micha” aka “Neon” aka “Fer,” 40, of Mexico, allegedly coordinated the shipments of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and thousands of kilograms of marijuana into the United States, along with the pickup of drug proceeds, and kidnappings and murders.

Lopez was indicted in April 2012 along with Joaquin Guzman Loera aka “Chapo,” Ismael Zambada Garcia “Mayo,” and over a dozen other codefendants. He was arrested Aug. 14, 2012, and remained in Mexican custody until his extradition. Lopez made his initial appearance in federal court Monday.

“Daniel Franco Lopez was defendant #16 on DEA’s RICO indictment that included Joaquin ‘Chapo’ Guzman and Ismael ‘Mayo’ Zambada,” said Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “This extradition demonstrates that the men and women of DEA will never tire of pursuing the most violent, drug traffickers responsible for thousands of deaths in our country. We thank our domestic and international partners for their assistance on this case.”

“The extradition of this defendant is one of many significant pieces in a very large cartel case that spans more than a decade,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Not only are we grateful for the enduring and successful efforts of our federal law enforcement partners at the DEA, FBI and ATF, but I want to emphasize our goal to put an end to these organizations is shared by this U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department and our counterparts in Mexico.”

“The extradition is one more step towards dismantling and ending violence perpetrated by criminal drug trafficking organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge John Morales for FBI El Paso. “The FBI and our partners will endlessly pursue and prosecute cartel members and associates who attempt to control and intimidate their communities through violence.  This extradition starts the justice process to all of those who have suffered as a result of Franco Lopez’s criminal actions as a member of the Sinaloa Cartel.” 

“This case reads like a Hollywood movie script. You know the film…cartels, guns, drugs, money, feds,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C Boshek II for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Dallas Field Division. “Fortunately for the citizens of the United States, the good guys prevailed in this one. Mr. Lopez, an alleged underground criminal mastermind, left a path of destruction in his path. The American people are safer with this bandit in handcuffs and behind bars.”

Lopez is charged with one count of RICO conspiracy; two counts related to conspiracy to possess and import over five kgs of cocaine and over 1,000 kgs of marijuana; one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and aid and abet; and one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Lopez faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The DEA, FBI, and ATF are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio Franco, Kyle Myers and Susanna Martinez are prosecuting the case for the Western District of Texas. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Lopez.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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