The publication
Who Is ‘Gordo Flubber’? Pedro Humberto Martínez Rodríguez: Role, Charges and Status
What officials and news reports say about Pedro Humberto Martínez Rodríguez, known as “Gordo Flubber”. Everything below is attributed to its source. Accusations are allegations, not findings: anyone not convicted is presumed innocent.
At a glance
- Name: Pedro Humberto Martínez Rodríguez
- Known as: Gordo Flubber
- Role, as reported: Treasury describes him as one of the three principal lieutenants of La Rana's support network in Tijuana, alongside Jesús Rafael Yocupicio Yocupicio ("El Cabezón") and Franklin Ernesto Huezo Hernández ("El Ranchero"). [Tijuana Press, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- Latest status (as of 2026-09-30): He is reported as at large; no detention has been reported as of Sept. 30, 2026 — the U.S. action was a sanctions designation, not an arrest. [Tijuana Press, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- Link to a criminal group: linked to the Sinaloa Cartel in news reports cited below. See the Sinaloa Cartel profile.
- On this page: 14 facts from 6 sources (0 from official records). Unverified leads are not shown.
Role, as officials describe it
- Treasury says Gordo Flubber, El Cabezón and El Ranchero are responsible for carrying out violence on behalf of La Rana and managing the production and transportation of narcotics, including fentanyl, through Tijuana and into the United States. [Lado.mx, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- He is tied to the Los Mayos faction's Tijuana cell network led by the Arzate García brothers ("Aquiles" and "La Rana"). [NDT Noticias de Tijuana, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- Reporting identifies the co-designated lieutenants in full as Jesús Rafael Yocupicio Yocupicio ("El Cabezón") and Franklin Ernesto Huezo Hernández ("El Ranchero"). [La Verdad, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- Treasury's action targeted the support network that has enabled Aquiles and La Rana to maintain their hold on Tijuana. [Tijuana Press, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
Sanctions and designations
- OFAC designated him on Sept. 29, 2026 pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Sinaloa Cartel. [Tijuana Press, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- Felix (Ilia Elizabeth Felix Rivera) was also designated under E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224; her exchange, Magic Casa de Cambio, was designated for being owned/controlled by her. [Tijuana Press, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- He was one of 21 individuals (and the network's 25 entities) in the Sept. 29, 2026 OFAC action; Mexico's UIF applied a precautionary financial blocking the same day. [El CEO, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
Names and aliases
- U.S. Treasury identifies him as Pedro Humberto Martínez Rodríguez, a.k.a. "Gordo Flubber." [Tijuana Press, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
Key events
- His romantic partner, Ilia Elizabeth Felix Rivera ("Felix"), is described by Treasury as a financial facilitator for Los Mayos; she uses her Tijuana money exchange, Galerías Centro Cambiario, S.A. de C.V. ("Magic Casa de Cambio"), working with complicit southern-California exchanges to collect bulk cash proceeds, run mirror transactions and move funds back to Mexico for Gordo Flubber and La Rana. [Tijuana Press, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- Treasury says the exchange's previous owner — Felix's former husband Omar Guadalupe Ayón Díaz (Ayon) — was arrested for laundering over $45 million through casas de cambio for the Sinaloa Cartel, and was murdered in Tijuana in October 2023 on Gordo Flubber's orders. [Pregonero Baja, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
- La Rana and Aquiles were previously sanctioned in 2023 and were reclassified under E.O. 13224 in the same Sept. 29, 2026 action that designated Gordo Flubber. [Pregonero Baja, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
Other reported details
- The U.S. designations are administrative sanctions; he has not been reported charged or convicted in the cited sources, and retains the presumption of innocence. [Tijuana Press, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
Our coverage
- Juchitán Ex-Mayor ‘Quetu’ Ordered to Stand Trial: After a Mid-Hearing Lawyer Switch, Judge Keeps Him in El Altiplano and Gives Prosecutors 3 Months in Alleged CJNG ‘Los Cromos’ Case Sep 30, 2026
- Xolo Gas Sanctioned: U.S. Targets a Former Business Partner of Tijuana Xolos Owner Jorge Hank Inzunza — Twin Sons of Hank Rhon’s Late Security Chief Sep 30, 2026
- Treasury Says ‘Gordo Flubber’ Ordered a 2023 Tijuana Killing: Inside the Sinaloa Cartel Cell of $5 Million Fugitives ‘La Rana’ and ‘Aquiles,’ Across From San Diego Sep 29, 2026
- 7 of 10 Killings in Oaxaca’s Isthmus Tied to CJNG-Allied ‘Los Cromos,’ Prosecutor Says, as Juchitán Mayor Miguel Sánchez ‘Quetu’ Faces a Judge — and 6 More Town Officials Are Under Investigation Sep 29, 2026
- Forces Seize Juchitán’s 111-Officer Police HQ After Mayor ‘Quetu’ Arrest; Ex-Police Commissioner Accused of Protecting CJNG’s ‘Los Cromos’ Sep 25, 2026
- Guatemala’s ‘The Iceman’ Flown to McKinney, Texas, After 8-Year U.S. Hunt — Accused Associate of Ex-Mayor Who Allegedly Supplied Sinaloa Cartel Cocaine Sep 25, 2026
- Police Chief Among 18 Jailed for Trial After Raids on 28 Michoacán Properties Tied to Alleged CJNG Operator ‘El Señor de la T’ Sep 25, 2026
- Wanted by the U.S., Caught in Ojinaga: Alleged Border Boss ‘El Tavo’ Arrested With 11 Rifles, $19,400 and a Stolen Raptor After Police Helicopter Attack Sep 22, 2026
Sinaloa Cartel profile · More “Who is” profiles
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. If you are named here and believe something is wrong, contact us via our corrections page.