Thu Nov 21 21:40:00 UTC 2024: ## High-Ranking CJNG Member, Son-in-Law of “El Mencho,” Arrested in California

**Riverside, CA –** Cristian Fernando Gutiérrez Ochoa, a high-ranking member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and son-in-law of its leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), has been arrested in Riverside, California. The 37-year-old was apprehended on November 19, 2024, and subsequently charged with drug trafficking and money laundering in a federal court in the Central District of California.

According to US Department of Justice officials, Gutiérrez Ochoa, born between 1986 and 1987, allegedly faked his own death and assumed a false identity to evade capture after being indicted in November 2021 for the kidnapping of two Mexican Navy members. He is accused of living a lavish lifestyle in California, funded by CJNG drug profits.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated that Gutiérrez Ochoa’s arrest represents a significant blow to the CJNG, one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations. She emphasized the commitment to pursuing and bringing to justice those who harm Americans. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram echoed this commitment, highlighting the agency’s dedication to defeating the cartel.

Gutiérrez Ochoa, married to El Mencho’s daughter Laisha Michelle Oseguera González, allegedly oversaw the importation of tons of methamphetamine and cocaine into the US for over a decade and participated in acts of violence to further the cartel’s operations. If convicted on the charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs and conspiracy to launder money, he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for the drug charge, and a maximum of 20 years for the money laundering charge. The arrest underscores the ongoing efforts by US authorities to dismantle the CJNG and bring its leadership to justice.

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