The Arrests and Charges

In a coordinated effort, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), IRS Criminal Examination (IRS-CI), and local law enforcement agencies apprehended five suspects in Norcross, Ga., on April 1. The individuals are identified as Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel, 49; Karina Beatriz Perez hernandez, 22; David Miranda Vinalay, 39; Jerome Lewis, 47; and Irving Joel Hernandez, 34. All five were arraigned before a U.S. Magistrate Judge following their arrests.

The indictments, handed down by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of georgia, also include two individuals located in Mexico. The charges relate to a elegant operation involving drug trafficking and the laundering of illicit proceeds, allegedly directed by a trafficker based in Mexico.

Official Statements

Officials emphasized the collaborative effort that led to the arrests and the importance of disrupting such criminal enterprises.

Thanks to the great investigative work of our federal partners and local law enforcement, five individuals working on behalf of the violent Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) have been taken off our streets.We will not allow these criminal enterprises to continue profiting off of the death and destruction of American lives.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi

Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie Jr. highlighted the scale of the alleged money laundering operation.

The defendants allegedly trafficked high volumes of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our community and then laundered the illicit proceeds of their activities as directed by a Mexico-based drug trafficker,including more than $1 million during a mere two-month period. Even though these individuals took great measures to conceal their alleged criminal conduct,a steadfast and coordinated effort by our federal and local law enforcement partners helped to secure the federal charges in this case.

Acting U.S. attorney Richard S. Moultrie Jr., Northern District of Georgia

jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Division, underscored the devastating impact of fentanyl and the DEA’s commitment to community safety.

The deadly impact of fentanyl on our communities is devastating. These arrests should be a clear message to the traffickers that keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.

Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung, DEA’s Atlanta division

Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI’s Atlanta Field Office, emphasized the agency’s role in following the money trail.

Using our expertise in financial investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation is following the money, despite attempts by criminals to cover their tracks. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents in partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies, will continue our work investigating and holding accountable those responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our communities.

Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS-CI’s Atlanta Field Office

The Alleged Scheme

According to court documents, the DEA uncovered a scheme in September 2024 involving drug traffickers delivering bulk currency to a middleman in Norcross. This middleman then allegedly passed the funds to Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel and her daughter, Karina Beatriz Perez Hernandez, who purportedly laundered the proceeds under the direction of a Mexico-based drug trafficker.

Chilel and Perez allegedly operated a money service business (MSB) called “La Pulga Esperenza” in Norcross.Between September and November 2024, agents observed several traffickers delivering hundreds of thousands of dollars in suspected drug proceeds to the middleman, who then transferred the cash to chilel and Perez.

IRS-CI agents analyzed the MSB’s transactions and found that the cash was wired to mexico in small increments, seemingly to avoid detection by federal regulators. Over approximately two months, the ring allegedly laundered over $1 million in drug proceeds smuggled to Mexico.

CJNG Connection and Drug Distribution

The investigation identified David Miranda Vinalay, Jerome Lewis, and Irving Joel Hernandez as alleged traffickers who transported drug proceeds to Norcross. One of the primary traffickers was identified as a member or associate of the Cartel de Jalisco nueva Generación (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent drug cartels. The CJNG is known for its aggressive tactics and important role in the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States. The indictment also alleges that some of the traffickers possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl intended for distribution on behalf of the drug trafficking ring.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Justice Department aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. This operation streamlines resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The OCDETF program identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. more information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Legal reminder

An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.