A man federal prosecutors said supplied cocaine to Mexican drug cartels pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Wilder Emilio Sanchez Farfan, aka Gato, was indicted by a San Diego grand jury in 2019 for allegedly taking part in the trafficking of cocaine from Colombia, through Ecuador and then to the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors say Sanchez Farfan, 44, led an organization that was a “major source of supply” for Mexican criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the New Generation Jalisco Cartel.
In 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Sanchez Farfan, calling him “one of the most significant drug traffickers in the world today” in a statement. Officials alleged he used a variety of methods to ship cocaine to Mexico, including vessels sent to major ports, including Ensenada.
As part of his plea agreement, Sanchez Farfan admitted his organization was involved in trafficking cocaine out of South America between 2016 and 2023. He also admitted his group bribed government officials in order to further the conspiracy.
Sanchez Farfan was arrested in February 2023 in Colombia while traveling.
He is slated to sentenced in August, when he faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison.
