A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia presented an indictment against Juan José Farías Mendoza, alias “Juanjo”, 31, and Israel Vega Farías, alias “Papo”, 37, both from Tepalcatepec, Michoacán, and considered senior officials of the United Cartels.

“Juan José Farías Mendoza and Israel Vega Farías are accused of trafficking enormous quantities of methamphetamine into the United States and supporting a foreign terrorist organization,” stated Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

This criminal organization, based in the state of Michoacán, is one of the most important methamphetamine producers in the world, capable of manufacturing several tons per month.

The organization controls a distribution network that spans the United States, with operations centers in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City (Missouri), Sacramento (California), Los Angeles, Denver and Chicago, and extends to Europe, Australia and other regions, according to a statement.

On February 20, 2025, the United States Department of State designated the United Cartels as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

In August 2025, the Department of Justice announced criminal charges against several command and control elements of the United Cartels, including Juan José Farías Álvarez, alias “Abuelo”, the cartel's top leader, as part of an interagency effort to dismantle the United Cartels.

“The two defendants are close relatives of the top leader of the United Cartels, Juan José Farías Álvarez, who was indicted by the Criminal Division in 2024,” the statement added.

Farias Mendoza and Vega Farias are, respectively, Grandfather's son and nephew. Both defendants are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine for importation into the United States, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and using, carrying, and possessing firearms, including machine guns and explosive devices.

If convicted, both defendants face maximum sentences of life in prison.

“This indictment is a testament to Homeland Security Investigations' tireless efforts to dismantle the world's most dangerous criminal organizations,” said HSI Acting Associate Executive Director John Condon.

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