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Associated Press
8 minutes ago
- Associated Press
A car accident in small-town Tennessee leads to US charges against a major Mexican drug operation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The investigation began years ago after two drug dealers got into a car accident in a small Tennessee town. What followed was a series of secret wiretaps, a shootout with police and the discovery of drugs hidden in a tractor trailer that would eventually lead federal investigators back to cartel leaders in Mexico. The investigation culminated with Justice Department indictments unsealed Thursday against three leaders and two high-ranking enforcers of the United Cartels, a leading rival of Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The U.S. government is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest of United Cartels' top leader, Juan José Farías Álvarez — 'El Abuelo,' or the grandfather — along with multimillion-dollar rewards for the four others. All five are believed to be in Mexico. The cases, as outlined in court documents, provide a glimpse into how drugs produced by violent cartels in large labs in Mexico flow across the U.S. border and reach American streets. They also highlight the violent fallout that drug trafficking leaves in its path from the mountains of Mexico to small U.S. towns. 'These cases in particular serve as a powerful reminder of the insidious impacts that global cartels can have on our local American communities,' Matthew Galeotti, acting assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's criminal division said in an interview with The Associated Press. 'The chain started with a violent cartel in Mexico and it ended with law enforcement being shot at in a small town.' United Cartels is an umbrella organization made up of smaller cartels that have worked for different groups over time. It holds a fierce grip over the western state of Michoacan, Mexico. United Cartels is not as widely known as Jalisco New Generation, but given its role as a prolific methamphetamine producer, it has become a top tier target for U.S. law enforcement. It was one of eight groups recently named foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration. A car crash and an abandoned protective case The case goes back to 2019, when two dealers got into a car accident in a small town outside Knoxville, Tennessee, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in court. While fleeing the scene of the crash, they threw a hardened protective case filled with meth behind a building before being caught by police, according to court documents. Authorities began investigating, using wiretaps, search warrants and surveillance to identify a man believed to be leading a major drug ring in the Atlanta area: Eladio Mendoza. The investigation into Mendoza's suspected drug operation led law enforcement in early 2020 to a hotel near Atlanta. During their surveillance, authorities spotted a man leaving with a large Doritos bag. Troopers tried to stop the man after he drove from Georgia into Tennessee but he fled and fired an AK-style rifle at officers, hitting one in the leg before another trooper shot him. Inside the bag, police found meth and heroin, and identified him as a low-level dealer for Mendoza's drug ring, court records say. Weeks later, authorities searched properties linked to Mendoza and seized phones. They discovered messages between Mendoza and a close associate of 'El Abuelo,' the leader of United Cartels, that showed the drugs were coming from Mexico, according to the court records. On one of Mendoza's properties, investigators found a tractor trailer that had crossed from Mexica days earlier. When they searched it, authorities seized 850 kilograms of meth hidden in the floor of the truck and discovered more drugs inside a bus and a home on the property, court papers say. Mendoza fled the U.S. a short time later and returned to Mexico, where he was killed by cartels leaders angry that U.S. authorities had seized their cash and drugs, according to prosecutors. Cartels are targeted with terrorist designations The case represents the latest effort by the Republican administration to turn up the pressure on cartels through not only indictments of the groups' leaders but sanctions. The Treasury Department is also bringing economic sanctions against the five defendants as well as the United Cartels as a group and another cartel, Los Viagras. 'We have to pursue these criminals up and down the chain to make sure that the end result doesn't result in violence and narcotics distribution on our streets,' Galeotti said. In addition to 'El Abuelo,' those facing U.S. indictments are Alfonso Fernández Magallón, or Poncho, and Nicolás Sierra Santana or 'El Gordo,' who authorities say lead smaller cartels under the United Cartels organization. The two other defendants are Edgar Orozco Cabadas or 'El Kamoni,' who was communicating with Mendoza, and Luis Enrique Barragán Chavaz, or 'Wicho,' who serves as Magallón second-in-command, according to authorities. The Trump administration has seen major cooperation from Mexico in recent months in turning over cartel leaders wanted by U.S. authorities. In February, Mexico sent the U.S. 29 drug cartel figures, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985, to the U.S. And on Tuesday, the Mexican government transferred to American custody 26 additional cartel leaders and other high-ranking members, including a man charged in connection to the killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. 'We're working with the Mexican authorities to pursue these individuals,' Galeotti said. 'We continue to work proactively with them, and we expect that they'll be helpful with us in securing the presence of these individuals in United States courtrooms.'
Daily Mail
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
New Paramount boss says fun movies that appeal to middle America are his priority... including 'threequel' to iconic film
Paramount Studios' new boss says all upcoming movies will be apolitical films that appeal to Middle America - with Top Gun 3 being a top priority. David Ellison, 42, made the revelation at a press conference at the Paramount Pictures lot Wednesday where he and other execs provided his vision for the company. Ellison also announced plans to up to 20 films-a-year - up from the 11 to 14 Paramount previously cranked out. All of these releases will be theatrical, he said - emphasizing the importance of big screen productions over streaming films. Similarly, he refuses to use the studio's streaming platform, Paramount+, as a landing page for low-budget B films, he said. Instead, Ellison aired plans to return Paramount to its glitzy glory days, following a lengthy regulatory review and Donald Trump 's suit surrounding edits to a '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris that some said was bias. To do so, Ellison said he plans to build on franchises already proven popular with the American public. He singled out properties like 'Star Trek' and 'Yellowstone' and a sequel to 2022's Top Gun: Maverick - calling the latter 'a massive priority for us,' he said. Most importantly, are plans to shed any prior political connotations that may be tied to the company, he said. Paramount settled with Trump last month for $16million. David Ellison, the new owner of Paramount Skydance, said he want to create films that appeal to Middle America and are not politicized during a press conference in Los Angeles Wednesday 'We're an entertainment company first, and I genuinely believe if you're breathing, you're our audience,' the 42-year-old tech scion said after months of being accused of bribery in regard to the Trump payout. 'I don't want to politicize this company.' 'We want to be in the business of speaking to everybody,' the son of MAGA supporting billion Larry Ellison continued. 'One of our biggest priorities is actually restoring Paramount as the No. 1 destination for the most talented artists and filmmakers in the world. 'Very simply, great filmmakers make great movies.' 'World War Z', 'Transformers', 'The Goonies,' 'Gremlins', and 'Night at the Museum' are also expected to be built on, he said - emphasizing that 'the movies that we make will be made for theatrical' and not TVs. One of the newly installed co-chairs of Paramount Pictures, Dana Goldberg added that alongside 'Top Gun,' moviegoers can expect a 'Star Trek' sequel very soon. Skydance, Ellison's old company, previously partnered with Paramount for the last two 'Star Trek' films. Ellison was an executive producer and is a 'big fan' of the franchise, Scotty actor Simon Pegg said at an event last week. Goldberg, a former Netflix exec, added how Ellison plans to use such properties to capture a wide audience. 'We are not going to be siloed off so that there's one conversation happening about television and another conversation happening about film,' she said. 'We're going to make sure these conversations are happening together so that we can do what's best for the brand as a whole.' The days-old company has already secure the U.S. streaming and television rights for the ever-popular UFC MMA promotion for $7.7 billion - almost the same sum it spent to acquire Paramount. Fights will air on Paramount+ and CBS exclusively for the next seven years, the company said - months after Ellison was spotted at a UFC event in Miami with Trump in April Within those seven years, Ellison said he plans to make Paramount a major presence in Hollywood once again, where Paramount's offices will be located rather than New York. In addition, Paramount has secured the rights to long-airing Comedy Central series South Park for $1.25 billion, with a separate deal with Trey Parker and Matt Stone that will last the next five years. Ellison also added how he plans to embrace technology - unlike some of his competitors - to help his vision become a reality. 'Legacy media kind of swam out to the middle of the lake, but wasn't exactly sure how to get to the other side,' he said 'Some people wanted to go back and burn the boats.' He said he intends to 'get to the other side of the lake.' Ellison also said CBS was one of Paramount's most 'underappreciated' assets.
Nahar Net
8 minutes ago
- Nahar Net
Katz quoted as saying Israel not planning new war on Lebanon
A senior U.N. official who has recently visited Israel has quoted Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz as saying that "the Israeli army does not intend to launch a military operation against Lebanon if (U.S. envoy Tomb) Barrack's mission fails,' ad-Diyar newspaper reported on Thursday. 'Israel will not go beyond the operations it is currently carrying out,' the official quoted Katz as saying. 'The 1982 scenario will not be repeated, and there will be no large-scale military operation from Mount Hermon to al-Masnaa (border crossing), as is being reported in the media. Operations will remain within their current framework," Katz reportedly added. The U.N. official also conveyed to Lebanese officials 'an American decision to maintain stability in Lebanon, which is a priority for Washington,' ad-Diyar said. 'This was also conveyed to the officials by the Lebanese-born U.S. congressman Darrell Lahoud,' the daily added.
