Three fugitives transferred to U.S. from Mexico arraigned in San Diego

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Three fugitives who were transferred to the U.S. from Mexico made their first court appearances in San Diego on Wednesday.

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Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuna, also known as "Flaquito," Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum, also known as "El Chavo Félix," and Abdul Karim Conteh were transferred to the U.S. from Mexico earlier this week in accordance with Mexico's national security law.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California, the three men were arraigned and entered "not guilty" pleas. Both Huerta Nuno and Conteh are scheduled to reappear in court on Sept. 19, while Felix Gastelum's next court appearance is set for Sept. 12.

Huerta Nuno, 33, of Mexico, is alleged to be a "violent Tijuana Plaza boss" who allegedly supllied thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine to distributors throughout San Diego and Los Angeles.

He was charged with "international conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for purpose of unlawful importation," "conspiracy to import controlled substances," "conspiracy to distribute controlled substances" and "conspiracy to launder monetary instruments."

Felix Gastelum, 42, a Mexican citizen, is alleged to be a major Sinaloa Cartel cell leader and the son-in-law of a former cartel leader named Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. Additionally, he is alleged to be among the main operators of the cartel's clandestine methamphetamine manufacturing laboratory in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Sinaloa and Durango, Mexico.

According to the U.S. attorney's office, he was charged with "international conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for purpose of unlawful importation" and "conspiracy to import controlled substances."

Conteh, 41, is a national of Sierra Leone who allegedly led a human smuggling organization into the U.S. through Mexico, officials said. The migrants who were smuggled came from all over the world, including Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and others.

Conteh was charged with "conspiracy to bring in aliens at a place other than designated port of entry" as well as "bringing in aliens for financial gain."