Federal indictment connects metro-east residents to Sinaloa Cartel drug ring
Indictments unsealed Wednesday at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis charge 26 alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel with trafficking hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into southern Illinois, and laundering drug proceeds to Mexico.
Among those charged is Earl Frank, 56, of O’Fallon. He faces felony counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, and two counts of conspiracy to launder money.
Also named in the indictment were Prospero “Pro” Coronel-Sanchez, 40, and Jose Luis Angulo-Soto, who is also known as “El Mi Nino.” Both are Mexican nationals and high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel who face additional criminal counts of narcoterrorism and money laundering conspiracy.
Frank pleaded not guilty to similar charges in an earlier indictment in March 2023.
That initial indictment implicated 14 others, including three from the metro-east:
- Kimberly Hoskins, 38, of O’Fallon: Charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, and money laundering.
- Aundre Vaughn, 54, of East St. Louis: Charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, and distribution of fentanyl.
- Chontell Reynolds, 42, of East St. Louis: Charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, and distribution of methamphetamine.
All three have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Terrorist organization
In February, President Donald Trump designated Sinaloa and seven other Latin American drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, declaring the groups pose “a national security threat beyond that posed by traditional organized crime,” through an executive order.
“The Sinaloa Cartel relies on drug trafficking to finance its terrorism against the American people while spreading poison in our communities,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “Today’s indictment is a significant blow against this terrorist organization’s infrastructure as we carry out President Trump’s mission of dismantling and destroying the cartels.”
U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois called the Sinaloa Cartel “a vicious international criminal organization that spreads terror through intimidation, torture and murder.”
According to a release from Weinhoeft’s office, the indictments follow a yearlong investigation involving individuals associated with the Sinaloa Cartel. Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested 15 suspects in a weeklong, nationwide sting including cartel associates mainly from California and Arizona in addition to Frank.
The indictments allege that the suspects distributed more than 400 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly 80 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 50 kilograms of cocaine from communities in and around southern Illinois between January 2020 and July 2025.
Frank’s arrest
In a separate federal indictment, Frank faces three criminal counts related to a brief standoff with federal agents at a motel in East St. Louis.
According to the indictment, agents knocked on the door of Frank’s room at the Royal Budget Inn to serve an arrest warrant on June 6. Frank allegedly fired shots toward them as they broke through the door. After a 15-minute standoff, he exited the room and was taken into custody.
“There were no projectile holes or defects made in the door or walls of the motel room, so it is believed the trajectory of the (bullets) was through the open door of the motel room where ... federal agents were waiting to make entry,” the indictment states.
Authorities seized a .380-caliber pistol with a defaced serial number from the room and ammunition from a Volvo S80 he had been driving, according to the indictment.
Frank is also charged with assaulting a federal officer, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM.
