A member of Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced to prison in another Operation “Sweet Silence” case, according to the United States Department of Justice.
Juan Carlos Torres-Arzapalo41 years old and originally from Mexico, was sentenced to 135 months in prison on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, after pleading guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy on October 27, 2025.
According to the Department of Justice, Torres-Arzapalo could be deported once his sentence is served. Authorities point out that parole does not exist in the federal system.
“Street gangs were responsible for a wave of violence in and around Columbus”said Affluent Bilson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Office.
“Columbus is now a safer place because the FBI and our partners have effectively dismantled this armed drug trafficking organization. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to keep our streets safe.”
The Department of Justice states that Operation “Sweet Silence” is a campaign directed against violent crime and drug trafficking linked to criminal organizations in the Columbus region.
Within the framework of this operation, A total of $270 million in drugs was seizedincluding $20 million in cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana, in Columbus. Operation Sweet Silence also seized 119 firearms in the Columbus area.
“Our goal is to dismantle the cartels and armed criminal organizations that terrorize our communities and bring them to justice,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, William R. “Will” Keyes.
Federal agents identified co-defendant Ulysses Cervantes as a global cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana trafficker, who obtained drugs from the Sinaloa Cartel. However, Cervantes does not identify himself as a member of the cartel.
The Department of Justice indicates that while Cervantes had his residence in Sacramento, California, he also had residences in Columbus and Phenix Metropolis.
Federal agents later discovered that Torres-Arzapolo worked closely with Cervantes to distribute the drugs in the Middle District of Georgia.
Federal agents claim to have intercepted several calls between Cervantes, Torres-Arzapolo and a third person related to drug trafficking, pricing and transactions.
Keyes added: “Those who cross the border illegally to commit violent crimes, distribute dangerous drugs and sow chaos in the Middle District of Georgia will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Operation Sweet Silence demonstrates the effectiveness of law enforcement collaboration.”
Keep reading:
– A financial operator of the Sinaloa Cartel is arrested in Canada.
– The US sanctioned 23 people and companies for supplying chemicals to the Sinaloa Cartel.
