Fact Check: "$1 million extortion scheme uncovered involving six drug traffickers"
What We Know
On April 1, 2025, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia indicted seven individuals connected to a drug trafficking and money laundering operation linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) (source-1). The indictment alleges that these individuals were involved in laundering over $1 million in drug proceeds over a two-month period, specifically from September to November 2024. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported that drug traffickers delivered large sums of cash to a middleman in Norcross, Georgia, who then transferred the money to the defendants, including Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel and her daughter Karina Beatriz Perez Hernandez, who operated a money service business (source-1).
Additionally, a recent report indicated that a DEA informant was charged with demanding $1 million from six suspected drug traffickers, who ultimately surrendered or were extradited (source-8). This context suggests that while there is a connection to extortion, it is not solely about the six traffickers being extorted but rather involves a broader investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering.
Analysis
The claim that a "$1 million extortion scheme" was uncovered involving six drug traffickers is partially true. The indictment indeed highlights a significant money laundering operation that involved over $1 million in illicit drug proceeds (source-1). However, the extortion aspect appears to be tied to a separate incident involving a DEA informant demanding payments from traffickers, which complicates the narrative (source-8).
The reliability of the sources is high, as they come from official government announcements and reputable news outlets. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the DEA are credible sources of information regarding drug-related indictments and operations. However, the mention of extortion by a DEA informant introduces a layer of complexity that suggests the claim may not fully encapsulate the situation.
Conclusion
The claim is Partially True. While there was indeed a significant drug trafficking and money laundering operation involving over $1 million, the extortion aspect is linked to a different scenario involving a DEA informant. This distinction is crucial for understanding the full context of the events.
Sources
- Members of a Massive International Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Ring Indicted in Atlanta. Justice.gov
- Eight Members and Associates of the Transnational 18th Street Gang Charged with Racketeering Crimes in Queens. Justice.gov
- Treasury Targets Major Mexican Cartel Involved in Fentanyl Trafficking. Treasury.gov
- Founder of Romanian Chapter of Hell's Angels Sentenced for Racketeering and Drug Trafficking. ICE.gov
- Six Charged In Multi-state Cocaine Trafficking Scheme. DEA.gov
- Former Philadelphia Police Officer Charged in Extortion Scheme. FBI.gov
- What is the best 28-gauge semi-auto shotgun? TheGunZone
- DEA informant charged in alleged scheme to extort high-level traffickers. ABC News
