Grand jury adds indictments to Sinaloa Cartel‑linked weapons scheme

United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment Sept. 24 charging Loyd Walter Hall, a/k/a “Jamie Hall” and “James William,” and multiple co‑defendants with conspiring to provide firearms to the Sinaloa Cartel, trafficking controlled substances and engaging in a series of illegal straw‑purchase and firearms‑trafficking schemes.

The indictment alleges that Hall coordinated to supply firearms, ammunition, and related equipment to the Sinaloa Cartel—an organization designated by the U.S. Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization. This conduct included facilitating access to weapons capable of supporting cartel operations, knowing the organization engages in violent activity, including attacks against law enforcement, rival groups, and civilians.

According to the indictment, defendants knowingly submitted false ATF Form 4473s and other fraudulent statements to federally licensed firearms dealers, misrepresenting the identity of the actual firearm buyers and concealing the intended transfer of the weapons. These false statements were allegedly designed to evade federal safeguards and facilitate the acquisition of firearms later intended for movement across state lines and, in some cases, toward the U.S.–Mexico border.

Read more: U.S. DOJ