La Familia Michoacana
fragmentedcartelUS FTOOrigin: Michoacán/Estado de México · aka LFM
Notes
Rebranded faction of original LFM. Strong in Tierra Caliente.
Primary activities
methamphetamineextortionkidnapping
Legitimate-industry exposure
USMCA tracker →Narco-política cases
Integrity tracker →- DismissedNarco-política · Oct 15, 2020Cienfuegos — DEA arrest, then charges dropped under MX pressureSalvador Cienfuegos Zepeda (Former Secretary of National Defense (Peña Nieto admin)) · PRI-alignedCartel ties:La Familia MichoacanaSectors: defense, security
Arrested in LAX October 2020 on drug-trafficking + money-laundering charges tied to the H-2 cartel (Familia Michoacana fragment). MX retaliated by threatening DEA cooperation; charges dropped November 2020 and Cienfuegos returned to MX, where he was promptly cleared. The Cienfuegos drop catalyzed the 2020 'Garita' law restricting US agents in Mexico.