Federal prosecutors have announced sweeping criminal charges in a case that officials describe as one of the most disturbing breaches of public trust in recent years. The investigation, which relied on an extended undercover operation, culminated this week with the arrest of two men now accused of conspiring with what they believed to be one of the most violent criminal organizations operating in North America.
The arrests followed months of covert surveillance, monitored communications, and recorded meetings with a confidential source posing as a high-ranking member of a powerful Mexican drug cartel. According to court filings, the defendants believed they were assisting a ruthless criminal enterprise in laundering massive sums of money and facilitating large-scale narcotics trafficking inside the United States.
Instead, every move they made was being tracked by federal authorities.
Both men were taken into custody Thursday in separate locations hundreds of miles apart. One arrest occurred in Virginia, the other in Florida. By the time they appeared in federal court, prosecutors said the evidence against them was overwhelming.
A Carefully Constructed Trap
According to the indictment, the case unfolded as part of a long-running federal investigation targeting transnational drug trafficking networks and their financial pipelines. At the center of the operation was a confidential source working directly under law enforcement supervision.
The source posed as a representative of a powerful Mexican cartel believed to be responsible for flooding U.S. cities with cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other lethal drugs. Over time, the source initiated contact with individuals suspected of being willing to assist with money laundering, weapons acquisition, and large-scale drug distribution.
Investigators say the defendants eagerly engaged.
Through a series of meetings, messages, and recorded conversations, prosecutors allege that the pair openly discussed their willingness to move drug profits through complex financial channels, convert large sums of cash into cryptocurrency, and even invest cartel proceeds into U.S. real estate to make the money appear legitimate.
Authorities say the undercover operative repeatedly emphasized the violent nature of the cartel’s operations. Instead of backing away, prosecutors allege the defendants leaned in.
Discussions of Weapons and Violence
Court records reveal that the conversations quickly escalated beyond financial crimes.
During one exchange, the undercover source allegedly described the cartel’s use of drones packed with explosives to carry out attacks. The source explained that explosives could be mounted onto drones and flown into position before detonation.
Rather than expressing alarm, one of the defendants reportedly responded by discussing the carrying capacity of drones and how much high-grade military explosive they could transport.
According to the indictment, one defendant stated that a drone could carry roughly six kilograms of C-4 explosive — enough, he said, to cause catastrophic destruction.
Prosecutors also allege the men explored the potential acquisition of commercial drones, military-grade firearms, and heavy weapons, including AR-15 rifles, M4 and M16 rifles, grenade launchers, and even rocket-propelled grenades.
Investigators say these discussions were treated by the defendants as serious business negotiations rather than hypothetical conversations.
Millions Allegedly Moved Through the Scheme
As the operation progressed, federal agents say the two men agreed to launder approximately $12 million in what they believed were narcotics proceeds.
According to prosecutors, at least $750,000 in cash was successfully converted into cryptocurrency as part of the sting. That money, rather than ending up in cartel hands, flowed directly into accounts controlled by the U.S. government.
Authorities also allege the men provided a payment tied to approximately 220 kilograms of cocaine, under the belief that the shipment would be trafficked into the United States and sold for roughly $5 million, including distribution in New York City. Prosecutors say the defendants expected to share in the profits.
At every stage, law enforcement remained one step ahead.
The Mid-Article Revelation
As the case details emerged in court filings, another stunning detail came into focus.
One of the men now facing these sweeping federal charges is a former high-ranking official inside the Drug Enforcement Administration — an individual who spent decades inside the very agency tasked with dismantling drug trafficking networks.
Prosecutors identify him as Paul Campo, a longtime DEA official who ultimately rose to become deputy chief of the DEA’s Office for Financial Operations, one of the most sensitive financial enforcement units within the agency.
Campo served with the DEA for approximately 25 years before retiring in 2016. His career spanned some of the most aggressive federal efforts against drug cartels and money laundering operations in U.S. history.
At the time of his retirement, Campo was regarded as a senior expert in tracking illicit financial flows.
He is now accused of allegedly helping what he believed to be a cartel move millions of dollars through hidden financial channels.
Campo served during the administration of President Barack Obama, giving the case an added layer of political and institutional fallout.
How the Alleged Conspiracy Began
Prosecutors allege that Campo did not initially make direct contact with the undercover operative. Instead, the operation began through his alleged accomplice, Robert Sensi, a 75-year-old Florida resident.
According to court filings, Sensi told the undercover source that he had a friend who once oversaw sensitive financial operations for the DEA — someone with specialized expertise who could help launder vast sums of cartel money while evading federal detection.
That “friend,” prosecutors allege, was Campo.
Once introduced, the two men allegedly began meeting repeatedly with the undercover operative in person and discussing how to hide millions of dollars in drug proceeds.
Authorities say Campo and Sensi frequently emphasized Campo’s former DEA role and financial expertise as a selling point — reinforcing their credibility to the supposed cartel representative.
The Cartel at the Center of the Case
The organization the defendants allegedly believed they were working with was the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) — one of the most violent and sophisticated transnational criminal groups in the world.
CJNG is overseen by Nemesio Ruben “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes and is notorious for its extreme violence, paramilitary tactics, and massive drug distribution networks.
According to the indictment, CJNG traffics cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other deadly narcotics into the United States while also operating large-scale money laundering operations and conducting brutal attacks across Mexico.
Earlier this year, on February 20, 2025, CJNG was formally designated by the U.S. government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, dramatically escalating the severity of any material support provided to the group.
That designation now forms the backbone of some of the most serious charges faced by the defendants.
The Charges and Potential Consequences
Campo, 61, of Oakton, Virginia, and Sensi, 75, of Boca Raton, Florida, now face a barrage of federal charges, including:
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Conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism
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Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine
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Conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization
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Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Each of these charges carries potentially devastating prison sentences. If convicted on all counts, the men could face decades — if not life — in federal prison.
Both men pleaded not guilty at their initial court appearances and were ordered detained by the court while awaiting trial.
Federal Officials Respond
Following the announcement of the charges, senior federal officials issued strong statements emphasizing the seriousness of the alleged crimes.
DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole called the case a stark reminder that betrayal of public trust will not be tolerated — regardless of past service.
“The indictment of former Special Agent Paul Campo sends a powerful message,” he said. “Those who betray the public trust — past or present — will be held to account to the fullest extent of the law.”
He added that any former agent who engages in criminal activity “dishonors the men and women who serve with integrity and undermines the public’s confidence in law enforcement.”
“We will not look the other way simply because someone once wore this badge,” he said.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton also addressed the case, describing CJNG as a brutally violent enterprise and commending investigators for dismantling what he called a dangerous financial pipeline.
A Case That Shakes Confidence
The case has sent shockwaves through both law enforcement and political circles.
For many observers, the most disturbing aspect is not just the scale of the alleged crimes — but the fact that one of the accused once held a senior position inside the very agency responsible for fighting the drug war.
Legal experts say the case highlights the extraordinary lengths to which federal investigators must now go to root out corruption within even the highest levels of enforcement institutions.
At the same time, the designation of CJNG as a terrorist organization dramatically raises the stakes for any individual accused of assisting the group in any way.
What Happens Next
The case is now moving into the pre-trial phase, where prosecutors are expected to unveil recordings, financial records, and surveillance evidence collected during the sting.
Defense attorneys for both men have not yet publicly detailed their strategy, but the not-guilty pleas signal that a long legal battle is ahead.
For federal authorities, the case represents both a major victory in the fight against transnational crime — and a sobering reminder of how deeply cartel influence can penetrate.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
