Holy SMOKES
I mean, we talk about supplementing major dad's military retirement, having been 'government' employees and all, but, um...this is ridiculous.
...Paul Campo, 61, of Oakton, Virginia, who retired from the DEA in 2016 after a 25-year career, is facing four federal conspiracy charges related to alleged narcoterrorism, terrorism, narcotics distribution and money laundering. The same charges were lodged against his associate, Robert Sensi, 75, of Boca Raton, Florida.
I can't even imagine what this dude was pulling down, not to mention the lucrative contacts he had at his disposal for plunder after resigning just before the incoming Trump administration took office.
BREAKING - The DEA’s chief financial director under Obama, Paul Campo, who resigned in 2016 ahead of Trump’s administration, had his Virginia home raided and has been charged for agreeing to launder $12 million for the CJNG, a Mexican cartel, while acting in his role at the DEA. pic.twitter.com/KL0tz6RsBn
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) December 5, 2025
This takes some serious cojones.
This Campo fellow and his Boca Raton associate, Robert Sensi, thought they were talking to an associate of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which was designated a terrorist organization in February by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The cartel member was, in actuality, federal law enforcement.
But it sure sounds as if these two bozos wanted to impress the heck out of whoever the guy was.
This cartel, which I've never heard of, sounds as predictably nasty as the rest of the most familiar names. According to the DEA website, it's busy in all fifty states, and is busy diversifying to hide the drug profits.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is a key supplier of illicit fentanyl to the United States, and one of Mexico’s most powerful, influential, and ruthless transnational criminal organizations. Forming around 2011 out of the remnants of the Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated Milenio Cartel, CJNG has become independent from key members linked by blood ties or marriage to the Gonzalez-Valencia money laundering organization, known as Los Cuinis.
Like the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG reaps billions of dollars in profit from the manufacture of illegal synthetic drugs, as well as being one of main suppliers of cocaine to the U.S. market.
...CJNG is heavily involved in the manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution of illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as maintaining a vast money laundering operation through CJNG’s financial arm, Los Cuinis. Los Cuinis featured prominently in the leadership structure of the cartel, oversees the cartel’s diverse network of money laundering operations to repatriate global illicit drug proceeds back to Mexico. This group and other CJNG factions use Chinese Money Laundering Networks (CMLNs), cryptocurrency exchanges, bulk cash smuggling, trade-based money laundering, and other methods to launder illicit drug-related proceeds.
CJNG is likely increasing its involvement in non-drug activities, including gasoline theft, extortion , human smuggling, real estate schemes—including timeshare fraud—for money laundering purposes. CJNG members increasingly participate in these activities to diversify revenue streams and protect drug trafficking assets from law enforcement seizure.
There's a $15M bounty on the CJNG's founder and current leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, aka El Mencho.
The two wannabe gangsters promised the associate the moon, going as far as insinuating they might be able to get drones and hardware for the drug kingpins, besides promising to launder $12M in cartel money. The two conspirators actually converted a healthy chunk of cash into crypto for the group, but they were also looking at things like real estate to launder drug cash through.
...Campo boasted about his prior law enforcement experience during conversations with the source, authorities said. He began his career as a DEA agent in New York and rose to become deputy chief of financial operations for the agency, the indictment said.
He and Sensi agreed to launder about $12 million in drug proceeds for the cartel and converted about $750,000 in cash to cryptocurrency for the group, the indictment says. They also provided a payment for about 220 kilograms of cocaine that they were told would be distributed and sold in the U.S. for about $5 million, and they would get a cut of the proceeds, according to the allegations.
They also said they would look into procuring commercial drones and military-grade weapons for the cartel, including AR-15 semiautomatic rifles, M4 carbines, grenade launchers and rocket-propelled grenades, the indictment alleges.
The indictment also says Campo was willing to snitch on DEA methods, procedures, and other sensitive information.
...During a series of meetings with the informant, Campo and Sensi discussed money laundering, drug trafficking and drug manufacturing, as well as providing firearms and explosive devices for the cartel, authorities said.
Sensi told the informant that Campo had been in charge of the DEA’s financial operations, claiming that Campo had connections within the agency, including its top leadership, the court document says. Sensi also claimed Campo could launder narcotics proceeds and could provide sensitive DEA information about sources and investigations.
I mean, I don't get this. Campo owns what appears to be a well-established consulting firm he'd founded, and was still being called back as an expert for congressional hearings and such things.
Why on earth would someone jeopardize all that?
But he had been in charge of 'worldwide money laundering operations' while at the DEA, so no one could claim he was padding his resume to the phony cartel associate.
...Campo is the founder of Global Financial Consultants, which provides in-depth financial consultant services to financial institutions, according to his biography on the company's website. In that role, he attends the quarterly meetings of the board of directors of the Electronic Warfare Associates. He also holds a security clearance.
Prior to founding CFC in 2016, Campo had a 25-year career as a DEA special agent and was appointed in February 2013 to serve as deputy chief of the Office of Financial Operations. In that role, he oversaw more than $17 million in DEA funding and was responsible for worldwide money laundering operations, according to his bio.
Campo also represented DEA before Congress, the banking industry, money service businesses, as well as the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Office of Foreign Asset Control, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Treasury, the National Security Council, his bio said.
It does kind of make you wonder what Mr Campo was doing while he was IN CHARGE OF THE DEA'S 'worldwide money laundering operations.' I hope someone is looking into that.
The U.S. Attorney had harsh words.
...“As alleged, Paul Campo and Robert Sensi conspired to assist CJNG, one of the most notorious Mexican cartels that is responsible for countless deaths through violence and drug trafficking in the United States and Mexico,” Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. “By participating in this scheme, Campo betrayed the mission he was entrusted with pursuing for his 25-year career with the DEA.”
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole added in the same statement that while Campo is no longer employed by the DEA, the alleged activity dishonors current law enforcement officials and undermines public trust in law enforcement.
All I can think is that this sleazeball was already on the government's radar.
I'm glad they got him, but what was going on and out the door while he was in charge for all those years?
It might explain some of the 'war on drugs' being more of a running series of skirmishes all that time.
At HotAir, we’ve been dealing with real government suppression of free speech for YEARS. Despite the threats and consequences, we refuse to go silent and remain committed to delivering the truth.
But we can't do it without your support.
Please help Ed, David, John, and me continue fighting back against government censorship by joining our terrific HotAir VIP community today. Use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
And thank you so much again for being here with us at HotAir.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member