Washington D.C. – Federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment in the Western District of Texas charging a Mexican national with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization—the first case of its kind in the United States.
Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 39, of Mexico, stands accused of supplying grenades to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a transnational criminal organization recently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. Department of State. In addition to the terrorism-related charges, Navarro-Sanchez faces federal counts including alien smuggling, firearms trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and narcotics distribution conspiracy.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi described the indictment as a significant victory in the fight against violent criminal networks. “Cartels like CJNG are terrorist groups that wreak havoc in American communities and are responsible for countless lives lost in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere,” Bondi said. “This announcement demonstrates the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to securing our borders and protecting Americans.”
Navarro-Sanchez’s co-defendants, Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 27, and Gustavo Castro-Medina, 28, also face related charges for firearms trafficking, alien smuggling, and drug distribution.
The indictment follows President Trump’s January directive to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, which federal officials argue pose severe threats to national security. CJNG, known for its extreme violence and international reach, is responsible for trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics into the U.S., as well as attacking Mexican military and law enforcement with military-grade weapons and drones.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the administration’s aggressive stance: “We will never allow criminal gangs and cartels to terrorize American communities. The days of unchecked gang and cartel violence are over.”
According to court documents, Navarro-Sanchez operated as a key enabler of CJNG’s violent network by smuggling weapons and cash across borders and facilitating human trafficking. ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons called her actions “a direct assault on the security of the United States,” adding, “Her crimes extended beyond smuggling; she was deeply embedded in a network of violence and profit that endangered countless lives.”
The indictment stems from a broad investigation led by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), with contributions from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Border Patrol, and multiple international partners including the Mexican Attorney General’s Office. Over 365 arrests and hundreds of convictions have already resulted from JTFA’s operations, along with substantial asset seizures.
The Justice Department prosecuted the case under the umbrella of Operation Take Back America and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which coordinates multi-agency task forces to dismantle major trafficking networks.
Navarro-Sanchez was arrested in Mexico on May 4 and awaits extradition. If convicted, she could face life in prison.
“This case lays bare the true nature of the threat we face,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “It’s not just about drugs—it’s about national security.
