9237067093?profile=originalBy Gangsters Inc. Editors

United States Departments of Justice, Treasury, and State declare war on Jalisco New Generation Cartel on Tuesday by issuing a series of measures to target and dismantle Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel. These include a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of its leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (photo above), also known as “Mencho”.

“The $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of “El Mencho” is among the highest the Narcotics Rewards Program currently offers,” said Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kirsten Madison. “This reflects the U.S. government’s strong commitment to bringing Oseguera Cervantes to justice.”

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is considered by the Department of Justice to be one of the five most dangerous transnational criminal organizations in the world, responsible for trafficking many tons of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced heroin into the United States, as well as for violence and significant loss of life in Mexico.

Disciplined and extremely violent

Founded in 2011, Jalisco New Generation Cartel has grown in size and strength rapidly since its inception. Today, the DEA estimates the organization exerts influence in 23 of 31 (75 percent) of Mexican states, including key drug production and transportation corridors.

It is a powerful drug cartel in Mexico as a result of the organization’s disciplined command and control, sophisticated money laundering techniques, efficient drug transportation routes, and extreme violence. The cartel has also expanded globally, with significant presence and illicit business not only throughout the United States and Mexico, but also Europe, Asia, and Australia.

“We will continue to hammer transnational criminal organizations like the Cartel de San Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or CJNG,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “The DEA has said for three years in a row that Mexican drug cartels are the single gravest drug threat that this country faces. Today, I am announcing 15 indictments returned against the leaders of CJNG. These indictments are our next steps—but not our last.”

Bringing the heat

The 15 indictments, some recently unsealed, target the following Jalisco New Generation Cartel leaders, financiers, transporters, and sources of drug supply:

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, aka “Mencho”: Oseguera Cervantes, 52, is the lead defendant in a three-count superseding indictment returned in the District of Columbia in 2017 alleging that he is the leader of a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, conspired to distribute significant quantities of narcotics for illegal importation into the United States, and has used a firearm during and in relation to these drug trafficking crimes. In addition to the indictment in the District of Columbia, Oseguera Cervantes has also been charged with drug trafficking offenses in the Southern District of Mississippi (SDMS). He is currently a fugitive and was designated as a “Kingpin” under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act by the Department of the Treasury in April 2015.

Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, aka, “Menchito”: Oseguera Gonzalez, 28, Oseguera Cervantes’ son, served as the CJNG’s second in command until the time of his arrest by Mexican authorities in June 2015. Oseguera Gonzalez is charged in a two-count indictment returned in the District of Columbia in 2017 alleging that between 2007 and February 2017, Oseguera Gonzalez engaged a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of narcotics for illegal importation into the United States and that Oseguera Gonzalez engaged in the use of a firearm during and in relation to one or more drug trafficking crimes. Oseguera Gonzalez remains in Mexican custody and is currently pending extradition to the United States.

Abigael Gonzalez Valencia: Gonzalez Valencia, 45, the head of the “Cuinis” organization, is charged in a three-count indictment returned in the District of Columbia in 2014 alleging that he was a leader in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, conspired to distribute significant quantities of narcotics for illegal importation into the United States, and used a firearm during and in relation to one or more drug trafficking crimes. The CJNG has flourished in significant part because of its close affiliation with the Cuinis organization, which is the primary financial support network of the CJNG drug trafficking efforts. The Cuinis organization is composed of multiple members of the Gonzalez Valencia family. The relationship between the Cuinis organization and the CJNG is cemented through both intertwined drug trafficking and money laundering dealings as well as familial relationships, including the marriage of one member of the Gonzalez Valencia family to CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes. Gonzalez Valencia was designated as a “Kingpin” under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act by the Department of the Treasury in April 2015. Gonzalez Valencia was arrested by Mexican authorities in February 2015 pursuant to his charges in the United States and is awaiting extradition.

Jesus Contreras Arceo, aka “Canasto”:  Contreras Arceo, 41, is charged in a two-count indictment returned in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2017 alleging that between 2011 until March 2017, Contreras Arceo engaged in a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of narcotics for illegal importation into the United States and that Contreras Arceo engaged in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. Contreras Arceo was arrested by Mexican authorities in July 2018 pursuant to his charges in the United States and is awaiting extradition.

Erick Valencia Salazar, aka “El 85”: Valencia Salazar, 41, is charged in a one-count indictment returned in the District of Columbia in 2018 alleging that between 2003 until August 2018, Valencia Salazar engaged in a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of narcotics for illegal importation into the United States. Valencia Salazar is currently a fugitive and is believed to be in Mexico.

Juan Perez-Vargas, aka, “Piolin”: Perez-Vargas, 37, is charged in a two-count indictment returned in the Southern District of California in 2017 alleging that Perez-Vargas engaged in a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of narcotics for illegal importation into the United States. Perez-Vargas was arrested by Mexican authorities in September 2017 pursuant to his charges in the United States and is awaiting extradition.

Diego Pineda Sanchez, aka “Botas” and Carlos Parra-Pedroza: Pineda Sanchez, 33, and Parra-Pedroza, 35, are charged with 28 others in a 63-count indictment returned in the Northern District of Illinois in 2015, alleging that between 2011 and September 2014, Pineda Sanchez and Parra-Pedroza led a Mexico-based conspiracy to launder more than $100 million in narcotics proceeds belonging to Mexico-based drug traffickers, through the purchase and resale of gold. The evidence in the case established that Pineda Sanchez and Parra-Pedroza laundered most of these narcotics proceeds on behalf of CJNG and its leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes aka “Mencho.” Pineda Sanchez and Parra-Pedroza have pleaded guilty to the money laundering conspiracy charges, and are facing a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. On Oct. 5, Pineda Sanchez was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison by the U.S. District Court in Chicago. The Court will set a sentencing date for Parra-Pedroza at a status hearing on Nov. 1. All other charged and arrested members of the conspiracy have pleaded guilty and have either been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing.

Do you have information?

As part of continuing efforts to cripple the operations of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the U.S. Department of State has previously issued a number of rewards through the Narcotics Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest of principal members.

Previously, the Department of State issued rewards through the Narcotics Rewards Program for up to the amount of $10 million for information leading to the arrests of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, and Jose Gonzalez Valencia. 

Additionally, the Department of State is announcing a Narcotics Rewards Program reward for information leading to the arrest of high-ranking member Erick Valencia Salazar, aka, “El 85,” in the amount of $5 million.

Individuals with information about this organization should contact law enforcement authorities by calling 1-213-237-9990, via email at MENCHOTIPS@usdoj.gov, or via Twitter by contacting the handle, @DEALosAngeles.

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Comments

  • 10 mil?? My ass is in jail if the reward is over $50. My wife and kids would turn my ass in. No doubt.

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