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Who Is ‘El Marro’? José Antonio Yépez Ortiz: Role, Charges and Status
What officials and news reports say about José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, known as “El Marro”. Everything below is attributed to its source. Accusations are allegations, not findings: anyone not convicted is presumed innocent.
At a glance
- Name: José Antonio Yépez Ortiz
- Known as: El Marro
- Role, as officials describe it: Treasury says CSRL derives the vast majority of its illicit revenue from fuel and oil theft in Guanajuato and also traffics heroin into the United States. [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
- Link to a criminal group: linked to the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in official U.S. or Mexican records cited below. See the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel profile.
- On this page: 12 facts from 4 sources (9 from official records). Unverified leads are not shown.
Accusations and charges
- He still faces accusations of organized crime, money laundering, illegal fuel extraction, and attempted homicide. [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
Sanctions and designations
- On December 17, 2025 OFAC sanctioned him pursuant to Executive Order 13581 and designated CSRL pursuant to Executive Order 13851. [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
Names and aliases
- The U.S. Treasury identifies him as José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, also known as 'El Marro.' [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
Key events
- He was sentenced to 60 years in prison in January 2022 after a kidnapping conviction; the sentence was ratified in October 2022. [Reuters via Devdiscourse · news/research]
- Treasury says he helped establish CSRL's alliance with the Gulf Cartel from within prison. [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
- CSRL's war with CJNG for control of Guanajuato's fuel made the state one of Mexico's deadliest, according to Treasury. [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
- Stolen crude was smuggled into the United States mislabeled as 'waste oil,' sold at a discount, with profits repatriated to Mexico. [Border Report / CW7 Arizona · news/research]
- He was one of Mexico's most-wanted criminals before his 2020 capture; President López Obrador called the arrest 'very important.' [The Mexico Daily Post (AP), 2022-01-17 · news/research]
- Treasury says he continues to direct CSRL's operations from within prison through lawyers and family members. [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
- Treasury says he continues to direct CSRL's operations from within prison through lawyers and family members. [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
Other reported details
- As of 2026 he is serving a 60-year sentence in Mexico; the U.S. sanctions freeze his assets and bar U.S. persons from business dealings with him. [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2025-12-17 · official record]
Our coverage
- 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
- 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
Santa Rosa de Lima 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.