A federal grand jury indicted siblings Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga — also known as El Pez, Pescado, and Mojarra — and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga — also known as El Fresa, El Feyo, and La Fruta — both of Guerrero, Mexico, and co-leaders of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) drug cartel, officials announced this week.
The defendants were charged with alleged conspiracy to manufacture and distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, according to authorities.
The indictments were returned in September 2024 and recently unsealed.
Both Hurtado Olascoaga brothers are fugitives believed to be residing in Mexico.
In addition, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced new sanctions against Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga and their siblings, LNFM members Ubaldo Hurtado Olascoaga and Adita Hurtado Olascoaga.
On Feb. 20, the U.S. Department of State also announced the designation of LNFM as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
Additionally, the Department of State announced a Narcotics Rewards Program offer of up to $5 million and $3 million, respectively, for information leading to the arrests or convictions of Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga.
Franco Tabares Martinez, 51, of Guerrero, Mexico, a high-ranking member of LNFM was charged by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and related substantive counts of drug trafficking.
The indictment against Franco Tabares Martinez was unsealed on July 7, 2023, after which OFAC sanctioned him.
On June 20, 2024, his brother Uriel Tabares-Martinez was also sanctioned by OFAC.
Another brother, Pablo Tabares Martinez, pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Their sister, Guadalupe Tabares Martinez — also known as Yosel Medrano Hernandez and Lupe — of Mableton, Georgia, was charged with conspiracy to commit international money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money services business, and related substantive counts.
The indictment was returned on April 8 and was recently unsealed.