Accused cartel boss living secret bloodthirsty life in wealthy California city — as feds make terrifying discovery

A world of golden guns, heaps of cash and loads of drugs has been unearthed in a wealthy Southern California city.

Authorities have snagged a notorious crime boss in San Diego following investigations into his alleged reign of terror as a violent leader for the Sinaloa Cartel’s “Los Rugrats.”

The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California on Tuesday charged Carlos Paez Pereda, also known as “Carlitos” or “Carlitos Rugrats,” with a menagerie of horrific crimes, including narcoterrorism, money laundering conspiracy, and several charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

“For years, Pereda allegedly fueled the drug crisis by trafficking deadly drugs into the United States while using violence, intimidation, and fear to protect his criminal enterprise,” DEA Special Agent in Charge James Nunnallee said.

“As alleged in the indictment, his organization relied on murder, kidnapping, and armed enforcers to maintain power and ensure the continued flow of drugs that have devastated families and communities across our nation.”

A wanted notice from the FBI had been posted, and Paez was considered “armed and dangerous.” Officials issued a federal arrest warrant for the cartel leader back in March.

Before his capture, Paez posted photos of his arsenal of weaponry, including at least three assault rifles that he labeled in a cheeky Instagram comment: “My 3 fav.”

Other photos showed mounds of cash and numerous shiny guns, including one that had a handle with his last name bedazzled on it and another with “Rugrats” embossed in gold on its barrel.

The Sinaloa Cartel’s “Los Rugrats” division “has fueled brutal violence in Mexico that reaches into the United States along with a relentless flow of deadly drugs into our communities,” FBI San Diego Field Office Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily said.

Paez led the drug network and distribution for the Mayo Zambada faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, according to the DOJ. He also served as an enforcer for the cartel, ordering a group of armed fighters and hitmen to perform murders, armed kidnappings or other violent activity.

He also managed the drug corridor between Sinaloa and Tijuana, importing “tens of thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine” over the past decade. Paez laundered “hundreds of millions of dollars in drug proceeds.”

Most recently, Paez helped the Los Mayos faction in a bloody conflict against the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel with money, guns, fighters, and logistics.

The attorney’s office touted its efforts as part of “a storied tradition” of dismantling Mexican cartels. The office said the indictment was a “direct result” of a Trump executive order naming the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

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