Federal prosecutors say a quiet North Georgia ranching operation doubled as a major drug pipeline, and the man at the center of it just got 15 years behind bars.
Jose Guadalupe Favela, a 68-year-old Riverdale resident and alleged Sinaloa Cartel operative, was sentenced on March 9 to 188 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine. Prosecutors say Favela oversaw a drug route that funneled meth and cocaine through ranch properties in North Georgia.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III, following Favela’s guilty plea on Sept. 22, 2025. U.S. Attorney William R. Keyes described Favela as “a significant operative in the Sinaloa Cartel, responsible for facilitating the distribution of massive quantities of deadly drugs into Georgia.” The office said the case grew out of an Operation Take Back America investigation led by federal partners, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia
According to prosecutors, Favela used a Monroe ranch on Bold Springs Road and another property identified as the Grayson Ranch to stash as much as 800 kilograms of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine. Federal agents relied on a confidential informant to secretly record conversations at the ranch, and the investigation featured three controlled buys of methamphetamine and cocaine on Dec. 19, 2021, Sept. 29, 2022, and Oct. 6, 2022.
As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, Favela also told associates that the group paused operations while preparing for a planned visit by Ovidio Guzmán López, a Sinaloa Cartel figure. Prosecutors say that trip was later called off because of a snowstorm in Georgia.
Investigation and court record
The case is filed in the Middle District of Georgia as Criminal Action No. 3:23-cr-00003. According to federal records on govinfo.gov, a grand jury returned an indictment in January 2023.
A January 2025 court order on the docket reflects continuances as both sides prepared for trial, underscoring that the probe unfolded over several years before Favela admitted guilt and the case moved to sentencing.
Co-conspirators and controlled buys
Favela did not act alone, according to prosecutors. His co-conspirators included Diego Garcia, Luis Mejina Pina (also known as “La Perra”) and Juan Pablo Torres. All three have pleaded guilty and received federal prison sentences ranging from four to 15 years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Court filings and prosecutors’ statements describe multiple recorded conversations in which Favela acknowledged storing large quantities of narcotics. In one instance, he allegedly asked for $1,000 to broker deals between suppliers and informants. Officials say the case was prosecuted under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at disrupting cartel networks and protecting communities. U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia
What investigators say
Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI praised the joint task force effort, saying Favela’s sentencing removes a dangerous distributor from Georgia streets and showcases federal work to dismantle cartel pipelines. An HSI official told local outlets that the case reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to protecting Georgia families from cartel-run trafficking operations. FOX 5 Atlanta
With Favela sentenced, federal authorities say a major chapter in the investigation is closed, but the work is not. Prosecutors and investigators say they are still tracking down any remaining stash locations, money flows and network links tied to the dismantled ring.
