A former high-ranking U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) official has been indicted in Manhattan for allegedly conspiring to launder millions of dollars for Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), betraying a 25-year career in law enforcement. According to federal prosecutors, Paul Campo, who once oversaw the DEA’s Office of Financial Operations, used his expertise to help one of the world’s most violent criminal organizations.
Details of the Allegations
Campo and co-defendant Robert Sensi are accused of meeting with a confidential source posing as a CJNG operative in late 2024. The indictment alleges they offered to route cartel money through real estate investments, advised on fentanyl production, and explored purchasing military-grade weapons and drones. Campo is specifically charged with laundering $750,000 in cartel cash by converting it into cryptocurrency and agreeing to launder an additional $12 million. He also facilitated a payment for 220 kilograms of cocaine valued at approximately $5 million, while boasting of his prior law enforcement background.
“As alleged, Paul Campo and Robert Sensi conspired to assist CJNG, one of the most notorious Mexican cartels responsible for countless deaths through violence and drug trafficking in the United States and Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “By participating in this scheme, Campo betrayed the mission he was entrusted with pursuing for his 25-year career with the DEA.”
From High-Profile Roles to Criminal Charges
Campo’s career included assignments in New York, Rome, and Milan, as well as leadership roles in DEA’s congressional affairs and financial operations. He represented the agency before Congress, the Treasury, Interpol, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Prosecutors now allege that the same skills he once used to combat money laundering were turned toward aiding a violent cartel. Campo faces charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
Implications and Warning
DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole stated: “The indictment of former Special Agent Paul Campo sends a powerful message: those who betray the public trust—past or present—will be held to account to the fullest extent of the law.” The case highlights the growing risk of cartels leveraging cryptocurrency for money laundering and underscores the need for stronger oversight of law enforcement insiders worldwide.