A Mexican national and high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel was arrested today in Nogales, Arizona, after being indicted last fall on federal charges accusing him of helping lead a large drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy that included people from Randolph County and several nearby counties.
Emmanuel Martimiano Leon-Soto, 42, of Naco, Mexico, is the last person arrested of 38 total individuals charged in November 2024 by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of North Carolina with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine hydrochloride. He is one of 10 of the defendants also charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking scheme.
Among those previous arrested were Ray Cozart Jr., 29, of Jackson Springs, also known as “The Mayor,” “Bigrayful DaMayor,” “Big Rayful,” and “Rayful”; Lewis Rondez Pratt, 34, of Candor; Scottie Perett Stanback, 43, of Jackson Springs; Amya Kyonna Gordon, 21, of Mount Gilead; Katey Ann Lamonds, 26, of Mount Gilead; Xavier Fabrice “Zay” Ellis, 27, of Jackson Springs; Camarius Kison “CBo” Phillips, 22, of Candor; Terell Myhiem “Backstreet” Baldwin, 22, of Troy; Michael William Curtis, 49, of Archdale; and Justin Rand Allen, 35, of Candor.
The indictment specifically mentions Guilford County as a place that the drug ring operated but includes no other details other than the drugs involved, but among the law enforcement agencies listed in a U.S. Justice Department press release as cooperating are the Forsyth County Drug Task Force, Surry County Sheriff’s Office, Davie County Sheriff’s Office, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office and Candor Police Department.
