Attorney General James Uthmeier Charges Sinaloa Cartel Network in RICO Cocaine Trafficking Case; Cartel Boss and 9 Others Arrested

Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution has arrested and charged multiple defendants with Racketeering and Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering in connection with a Sinaloa Cartel-linked enterprise that transported thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico through El Paso, Texas, into the Tampa Bay area for distribution. The investigation culminated in the July 11, 2026, seizure of approximately 60 kilograms of cocaine and subsequently law enforcement efforts have fully dismantled the Florida network.

"This investigation has completely dismantled a major Sinaloa Cartel pipeline that was flooding Florida communities with thousands of kilograms of cocaine," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit formed a dedicated task force whose members traveled to Texas for weeks-navigating complex surveillance and security challenges-to take this down with our partners at FDLE, HSI, and El Paso PD. With multi-million-dollar bonds and the arrest of the organization's number two, we are holding every level of this enterprise accountable and sending a clear message that Florida will not be a market for cartel drugs."

"This is the largest drug seizure from a single Pinellas County drug trafficker in the past 40 years," said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. "The amount of cocaine that Daniel Pinales was putting on the streets of Pinellas County is simply astronomical. I want to recognize the tenacious work done by our Narcotics Division detectives and other members of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, and the support from Attorney General Uthmeier and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a job well done in dismantling this organization and putting these people in jail where they belong."

The enterprise operated as a Sinaloa Cartel branch based in Juarez, Mexico. Cocaine was sourced in Mexico, transported across the Texas land border, and delivered to Jorge Ramiro Zamonsett in the El Paso area. Zamonsett coordinated commercial semi-trucks and accompanying chase vehicles to deliver the narcotics to Daniel Pinales in the Tampa Bay region. Pinales then redistributed the cocaine through a network that included Tyler Green, Marice Higgins, and Brian Varner. Investigators documented a consistent monthly pattern of deliveries from at least December 2025 through July 2026.

On July 11, 2026, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detectives, working with FDLE, observed the handoff of three duffle bags containing approximately 60 kilograms of cocaine to Pinales. Pinales was arrested with the cocaine, which field-tested positive, and additional members of the transportation team were taken into custody. The Office of Statewide Prosecution subsequently filed Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Trafficking in Cocaine charges against multiple defendants in Pasco County, with substantive Racketeering charges against key leaders. Daniel Pinales also faces a life sentence in connection with Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine over 150 kilograms.

Key subsequent developments include:

• The arrest of Erick Manuel Gomez Tapia, also known as "Canelo," identified as the number two in the organization, on a Florida warrant with a $30,000,000 bond. Gomez Tapia is in custody in Texas awaiting extradition.
• Jorge Ramiro Zamonsett was charged as a co-conspirator and is subject to a $10,000,000 bond.
• Miguel Alejandro Carrasco-Lechuga, involved in the money team and lookout operations, was arrested and is held at the Pasco County Detention Center on a $1,000,000 bond for Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering.

Defendants charged with Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (F.S. 895.03(4)), a first-degree felony, include Daniel Pinales, Erick Manuel Gomez Tapia, Jesus Morales, Joaquin Enriquez, Arturo Carlos, Jorge Ramiro Zamonsett, Tyler Green, Marice Higgins, Miguel Alejandro Carrasco-Lechuga, and Brian Varner. Substantive Racketeering charges (F.S. 895.03(3)), a first-degree felony, have been filed against Daniel Pinales, Erick Manuel Gomez Tapia, Jesus Morales, and Joaquin Enriquez. Bonds on the original defendants total approximately $40 million.

Intelligence developed during the investigation enabled partner agencies to seize 99 kilograms of cocaine in the El Paso area on July 29, 2026, and 60 pounds of methamphetamine on October 20, 2026.

Special recognition goes to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit for assembling and deploying a task force that conducted extensive operations in Texas. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement assigned an agent to the team. HSI and the El Paso Police Department provided critical assistance in Texas.

The cases are being prosecuted by Office of Statewide Prosecution Special Counsel Ryan Shaw and Special Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Bryan Sarabia of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

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