The son-in-law of one among Mexico’s strongest cartel bosses has been arrested in California — after federal prosecutors say he faked his personal dying so he might disappear to “live a life of luxury” within the Golden State.
Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, was bagged Tuesday in Riverside, the place he’d been residing in an opulent residence paid for by the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación [CJNG], the Division of Justice mentioned in an announcement Thursday.
Gutierrez-Ochoa is married to the daughter of CJNG boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, a ruthless chief recognized in Mexico as “El Mencho.”
“The Jalisco Cartel is responsible for unprecedented violence in Mexico and helping to fuel the deadly drug crisis in the United States,” the DOJ mentioned.
Gutierrez-Ochoa had allegedly been working for the CJNG for a decade and “personally coordinated the transportation and distribution of approximately 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine in Mexico, all destined for the United States,” in response to the company.
And Gutierrez-Ochoa additionally wasn’t afraid to resort to violence to get the job completed, prosecutors allege.
He’s accused of kidnapping not less than two members of the Mexican navy in 2021 as a part of a ploy to launch El Mencho’s spouse after she was arrested.
He quickly fled to the US, allegedly with help from El Mencho, who mentioned he’d executed his son-in-law for deceiving him, the DOJ mentioned.
As soon as in California, prosecutors allege Gutierrez-Ochoa rendezvoused along with his spouse, and after assuming a false identification, began a brand new life and “resided in a luxury residence in Riverside,” the feds added.
“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 to track down and arrest a cartel leader who allegedly faked his own death and assumed a false identity to evade justice,” Deputy Legal professional Basic Lisa Monaco mentioned in an announcement.
“As these charges allege, Gutierrez-Ochoa directed the trafficking of lethal narcotics, causing untold destruction in our communities,” she added.
Gutierrez-Ochoa was hit with cash laundering and drug trafficking expenses and faces as much as 20 years behind bars if convicted.
The US is looking for to bag El Mencho subsequent — and is providing a $10 million reward for info resulting in his seize.
His brother, Antonio Oseguera — also referred to as El Tony Montana — was arrested in Mexico in 2022 by a raid of closely armed Mexican troopers.
The household cartel makes a speciality of trafficking medication like meth and fentanyl to the US and has been fingered as one of many driving forces behind the nation’s heroin disaster.
