A high-ranking member of the notorious Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and the son-in-law of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, has been arrested in Riverside, California, on charges of international drug trafficking and money laundering. Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, was apprehended on November 19 following a federal investigation that uncovered his involvement in the cartel’s operations.
Gutierrez-Ochoa is accused of orchestrating the trafficking of massive quantities of drugs, including thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine, from Mexico into the United States. He allegedly began his work with the CJNG around 2014, personally coordinating the transport and distribution of drugs, which were smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border.
“The Jalisco Cartel — one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations — is weaker today because of the tenacious efforts of law enforcement,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “This arrest sends a powerful message to cartel leadership: We will find you and bring you to justice.”
According to court documents, Gutierrez-Ochoa played a central role in CJNG’s illicit activities, using violence to further the cartel’s operations. In 2021, he allegedly kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy in an attempt to free El Mencho’s wife, who had been arrested by Mexican authorities. After fleeing Mexico to avoid capture, Gutierrez-Ochoa entered the United States under a false identity, reportedly with the help of El Mencho, who spread rumors of Gutierrez-Ochoa’s death to facilitate his escape.
Gutierrez-Ochoa is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, knowing that the drugs would be imported into the United States. He is also accused of conspiring to launder proceeds from CJNG’s drug trafficking operations. If convicted, he faces significant prison time, including a mandatory minimum of 10 years for drug distribution, and up to 20 years for money laundering.
The arrest marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against the CJNG, which has been responsible for unprecedented violence in Mexico and a major contributor to the ongoing drug crisis in the U.S. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has made the dismantling of the cartel a top priority.
“Defeating the two cartels responsible for the deadly drug crisis in the United States is the DEA’s top operational priority,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “We are relentless in our pursuit of justice for the victims of this cartel and will exhaust every tool at our disposal to fight back.”
El Mencho, still at large, is facing similar charges. The U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his capture.
The investigation, led by the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, continues
