The person at the center of this case
American timeshare owners and financial system (defrauded parties)
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
232 days waiting
CARLOS ANDRES RIVERA VARELA
Justice for American timeshare owners and financial system (defrauded parties) — the trail went cold in 2025, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1What specific roles did Rivera Varela play in directing the timeshare fraud scheme and how were victims identified and targeted?
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evidence
Lead #2How did investigators trace the hundreds of millions in laundered funds and what financial institutions or intermediaries were involved?
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person
Lead #3Who are the other co-conspirators in this operation and what are their current statuses?
Carlos Andres Rivera Varela is a high-ranking leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) wanted for money laundering conspiracy and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Over the past decade, he allegedly directed an international fraud scheme targeting American timeshare owners in Mexico, laundering hundreds of millions to finance CJNG's drug and weapons operations. He remains at large as of October 2025, with a federal arrest warrant issued in the Eastern District of New York.
Case
#712
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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location
Lead #4What specific locations in Jalisco and Mexico were used as operational bases for the fraud and money laundering activities?
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clue
Lead #5What intelligence exists regarding Rivera Varela's current whereabouts and any recent sightings or communications?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Money Laundering Conspiracy; Providing Material Support, Attempting to Provide Material Support, and Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization Caution: Carlos Andres Rivera Varela is an alleged high-ranking leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a major transnational cartel and designated foreign terrorist organization based in Mexico. Rivera Varela and others allegedly directed an international complex fraud scheme targeting American timeshare owners in Mexico.
Over the past decade, this operation allegedly laundered hundreds of millions in alternative revenue to finance CJNG’s drug and weapons trade. Rivera Varela is also an alleged leader of elite sicario hitmen units responsible for extreme violence and high-profile assassinations with access to military-grade weaponry.
On October 28, 2025, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Rivera Varela in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn, New York, after he was charged with Money Laundering Conspiracy and Providing Material Support, Attempting to Provide Material Support, and Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Remarks: Rivera Varela is a dual Colombian and Mexican citizen.
He has ties to Jalisco, Mexico.
Timeline of Events
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2015-2025
Decade-long fraud and money laundering operation
Alleged international complex fraud scheme targeting American timeshare owners in Mexico, laundering hundreds of millions in alternative revenue to finance CJNG operations
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2025-10-28
Federal arrest warrant issued
Warrant issued in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn for money laundering conspiracy and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:Invalid Date
Last Updated:June 14, 2026
Up to $245,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:Invalid Date
Last Updated:June 14, 2026
Up to $245,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case