Chula Vista Woman with Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Ties Sentenced to Prison

Wuendi Valenzuela Valenzuela received 11 years and 3 months for leading a drug trafficking operation with links to the Sinaloa Cartel.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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A Chula Vista woman named Wuendi Valenzuela Valenzuela was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison for leading a drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Prosecutors said Valenzuela Valenzuela took over the operation after her brother Jorge Valenzuela was arrested in 2020. The organization was involved in importing thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico into the U.S. and laundering the cash proceeds.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to disrupt major drug trafficking operations with links to Mexican cartels, which have fueled violence and the opioid crisis in communities across the United States. The sentencing of Valenzuela Valenzuela and her co-conspirators is part of a broader crackdown on cartel-connected drug networks operating along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The details

According to court documents, Valenzuela Valenzuela pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to money laundering and the distribution and importation of cocaine. She admitted to working with others to import thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico into the U.S. through San Diego ports of entry, and then distribute it throughout the country. Valenzuela Valenzuela also helped move cash proceeds from the drug sales back to Mexico. Authorities also seized 20,000 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition that had been purchased in Oregon and transported to an Otay Mesa truck yard for shipment to Mexico.

  • In November 2020, federal authorities seized 685 kilograms of cocaine, 24 kilograms of fentanyl, and $3.5 million in cash in what was described as the largest single seizure of cash, narcotics and ammunition in the Southern District of California.
  • Jorge Valenzuela, Wuendi Valenzuela Valenzuela's brother, was arrested in 2020 and has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

The players

Wuendi Valenzuela Valenzuela

A Chula Vista woman who prosecutors say held a leadership role in a drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.

Jorge Valenzuela

Wuendi Valenzuela Valenzuela's brother, who originally ran the drug trafficking operation before being arrested in 2020.

Claudia Patricia Alvarez Hernandez

Jorge Valenzuela's wife, who was sentenced last year to 14 years in prison for being 'intimately involved in the operation of Jorge's organization.'

Keith Octavio Rodriguez Padilla

An individual who obtained the 20,000 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition that was seized in Otay Mesa and was sentenced to over 19 years in prison.

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What they’re saying

“Though she 'understood the scope of the conspiracy when she joined,' her duties were largely limited to collecting her brother's assets and transporting some cash to Mexico.”

— Maxine Dobro, Wuendi Valenzuela Valenzuela's attorney (Times of San Diego)

What’s next

Jorge Valenzuela is slated to be sentenced in San Diego next month for his role in the drug trafficking operation.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to dismantle drug trafficking networks with ties to Mexican cartels, which continue to fuel the opioid crisis and violence across the United States. The sentencing of Valenzuela Valenzuela and her co-conspirators is part of a broader crackdown on cartel-connected drug operations along the border.