A member of the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced to 135 months in prison on May 6 as part of Operation Sweet Silence, a law enforcement effort targeting violent crime and drug trafficking linked to criminal organizations in the Columbus region, according to an April 27 announcement.
Juan Carlos Torres-Arzapalo, 41, of Mexico and residing illegally in the United States, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges on Oct. 27, 2025. He will be subject to deportation after completing his sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“We are focused on dismantling cartels and armed criminal organizations terrorizing our communities and bringing them to justice,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Those who cross the border illegally to commit violent crimes, distribute dangerous drugs and spread chaos in the Middle District of Georgia will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Operation Sweet Silence demonstrates the strength of law enforcement collaboration.”
Rich Bilson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, said: “Criminal street gangs were responsible for a wave of violent crime in and around Columbus. Columbus is a safer place now that 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.”
Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Atlanta Field Division, said: “This investigation represents the very best of law enforcement collaboration… With the conviction of this defendant, we are getting closer to holding all individuals involved accountable.” Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman added: “We won’t stop until the criminal activity stops… We will continue this fight for safer streets and a safer community.”
Operation Sweet Silence ran from August 2022 until May 2024 as an extensive investigation into illegal activities by several street gangs—including Zohannon Street Gang (which was dismantled), US World (a hybrid organization), Crips, Bloods, Gangster Disciples—and their ties with two Mexican cartels.
Federal agents identified co-defendant Ulises Cervantes as a multi-kilo level dealer sourcing drugs from Sinaloa Cartel; Torres-Arzapalo worked with Cervantes distributing cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana throughout central Georgia. Agents used wiretaps during September–October 2023 that revealed negotiations for large quantities—upwards of fifty kilograms—of methamphetamine (“hielo”), marijuana deals involving multiple parties across state lines including California suppliers,
and cocaine transactions delivered directly within Columbus.
The operation resulted in seizures totaling $270 million worth of drugs ($20 million removed from local streets; $250 million traced back to California suppliers) along with confiscation of 119 firearms including machineguns,
rifles,
high-capacity magazines,
and stolen weapons.
Thirty-one defendants were indicted across nine separate indictments; thirty have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial so far—with sentences ranging up to twenty-five years—and one remaining defendant facing charges carrying potential life imprisonment.
U.S District Judge Clay Land presides over these cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration,
dismantling transnational criminal organizations,
and reducing violent crime through joint efforts between federal agencies such as FBI Georgia,
the DEA,
the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office,and other regional partners.
Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis for Middle District and Trial Attorney Matthew Mattis prosecute these cases jointly.
