An unexpected turn of events has led to the indictment of a former beauty queen from Indiana on charges related to aiding Mexican drug traffickers in moving substantial amounts of cash. Glenda Zapata, who once held the title of Miss Indiana Latina in 2011, now finds herself facing serious allegations.
The indictment, issued last Friday, alleges that Zapata utilized her position as a flight attendant and her crew member badge to facilitate the transfer of $310,000 in cash for a drug cartel operating in the southern United States and Mexico. Additionally, her sister, Elena Zapata, who was employed at a bank in Lafayette, Indiana, along with another bank employee, are accused of participating in the laundering of drug money by exchanging large bills for smaller denominations.
The drug trafficking organization in question, referred to as the Espinoza Drug Trafficking Organization or the Espinoza cartel by federal agents, is said to have trafficked significant quantities of cocaine and laundered tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds. The transportation of cocaine involved various methods, including concealment in tractor-trailers and private chartered airplanes, such as a 1987 Bombardier twin jet that was seized by authorities in 2021.
The indictment further details that the cash generated from the drug operations was funneled back to Mexico using trucks, the aforementioned Bombardier plane, and with the assistance of Zapata on commercial flights. The alleged leader of the Espinosa cartel, Oswald Espinosa, also known as 'the scrambler,' stands at five feet seven inches and weighing 210 pounds. He is currently a fugitive wanted by the DEA, with his last known location reported as Veracruz, Mexico.
Zapata's legal representation has spoken out, asserting that the accusations stem from events that occurred five years ago and that her arrest, which took place immediately after dropping her son off at school, was unwarranted. The unfolding case sheds light on the intricate web of criminal activities associated with drug trafficking and money laundering, underscoring the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat such illicit operations.
