A senior member of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) who allegedly staged his own death and lived under a false identity in California has been arrested and is now facing federal charges, the US Justice Department announced on Thursday.
Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, known as "Guacho," is the son-in-law of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the cartel’s leader. After fleeing Mexican authorities, Gutierrez-Ochoa assumed a fake identity and settled in a luxury home in Riverside, California, where he was apprehended earlier this month. He is accused of international drug trafficking and money laundering.
“The Jalisco Cartel — one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations — is weaker today thanks to law enforcement’s determination to capture a cartel leader who allegedly faked his death to evade justice and live a life of luxury in California,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated.
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Prosecutors allege Gutierrez-Ochoa orchestrated the transport and distribution of 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2,000 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico to the US. He is also accused of kidnapping two members of the Mexican Navy in an attempt to secure the release of his mother-in-law, El Mencho’s wife, after her arrest by Mexican authorities.
To help him evade capture, El Mencho reportedly spread false claims that Gutierrez-Ochoa had been killed for betrayal, enabling him to flee to the US and reunite with El Mencho’s daughter. From his base in California, Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly oversaw drug shipments into the country.
Court documents reveal that the cartel used a fake tequila company to launder money and purchase Gutierrez-Ochoa’s $1.2 million Riverside home in cash. Investigators, citing an informant within the CJNG, stated the group employed several counterfeit tequila brands to disguise drug proceeds.
Despite hiding for over a year, Gutierrez-Ochoa reportedly remained cautious, conducting counter-surveillance on federal agents monitoring him. The Justice Department did not disclose details of his arrest, only confirming he was taken into custody earlier this week.
El Mencho, charged in 2022 with leading the cartel’s fentanyl production and distribution efforts, remains at large. The State Department has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture and conviction.
