Fausto Isidro Mesa Flores has been featured in US case files for more than ten years. The story of Chapo Isidro illustrates how an initial charge, subsequent changes to the case and a high-priority manhunt have become different stages of a single international manhunt.
Key points of the case
| Background | Details |
|---|---|
| Name in sources | Fausto Isidro Meza Flores |
| The region covered by the case and its international links | Mexico; USA; Sinaloa |
| Status based on verified publications | Listed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list; facing criminal charges in the US |
From the 2012 indictment to the 2019 document
The FBI cites the original charge dated 2 May 2012 in the District of Columbia. The amended charge and federal arrest warrant are dated 26 November 2019. The case file details drug offences and the use or possession of firearms. [1]
In December 2019, the Department of Justice reported on an alleged conspiracy spanning the period from approximately January 2005 to November 2019. This timeline reflects the prosecution’s version of events, rather than a published list of proven individual acts for each year. [2]
Suspect’s file
What does the Meza-Flores TCO stand for?
US authorities describe the Meza-Flores Transnational Criminal Organisation as an alleged drug trafficking network based in Sinaloa. The wanted notice lists the manufacture, transport and distribution of drugs in Mexico, as well as their importation into the US. [1]
This designation is significant in the context of theories regarding the organisation’s leadership. It necessitates a separate examination of its resources, members and the directives of the alleged leader. The designation by surname does not, in itself, provide an answer as to which actions were carried out personally by Mesa Flores.
Why inclusion on the Ten Most Wanted list is news in its own right
On 4 February 2025, the FBI announced that Fausto Mesa Flores had been added to the Ten Most Wanted list. The announcement included a photograph, details of his connection to previous charges and an offer from the State Department of a reward of up to $5 million. [3]
This is an escalation of the public manhunt, not a new conviction. The list helps to elicit information about the individual, but the outcome of the case is determined by the case files themselves. Changes in the priority of the manhunt and the substantiation of the charges should be assessed separately.
Chapo Isidro and El Chapo: why the full name is essential
The nickname ‘Chapo Isidro’ refers to Fausto Isidro Mesa Flores. The similarity to the name ‘El Chapo’ does not make him Joaquín Guzmán. His individual FBI file contains his own date of birth – 19 June 1982 – and his own photograph. [1]
Reports of operations against his alleged inner circle also need to be verified using his full name. For this story, the key development will be a confirmed change in the whereabouts of the most-wanted man himself, rather than yet another arrest in Sinaloa.
Timeline of key events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 02.05.2012 | The initial charge in the District of Columbia. |
| 26.11.2019 | Amended charges and a federal arrest warrant. |
| 04.02.2025 | Inclusion on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chapo Isidro the same person as Joaquín Guzmán?
No. This article is about Fausto Isidro Mesa Flores, who has a separate FBI profile. [1]
When was he added to the Ten Most Wanted list?
4 February 2025. [3]
Other international cases in the archive
This material was compiled on 4 November 2026 based on the publications listed. Charges and allegations are attributed to their sources; the final determination of guilt is a matter for the court.
