A high-ranking member of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, has been apprehended in California after allegedly faking his own death and assuming a false identity. The US Justice Department revealed that Gutierrez-Ochoa, who is the son-in-law of the cartel's leader El Mencho, had been living in luxury in Riverside under a fake name.
Charged with international drug trafficking and money laundering, the 37-year-old Gutierrez-Ochoa is accused of orchestrating the transportation and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico to the United States. Additionally, he was involved in a kidnapping incident targeting two members of the Mexican Navy in an attempt to secure the release of his mother-in-law, El Mencho's wife, who had been arrested by Mexican authorities.
El Mencho, the alleged leader of the Jalisco Cartel, reportedly aided Gutierrez-Ochoa in faking his death to evade Mexican law enforcement. This elaborate scheme allowed Gutierrez-Ochoa to escape to California and reunite with El Mencho's daughter.
The US Deputy Attorney General, Lisa Monaco, emphasized the significant impact of Gutierrez-Ochoa's arrest on weakening the Jalisco Cartel, which is known as one of the most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations globally. El Mencho, who has been charged with leading the production and distribution of fentanyl for importation into the US, remains at large. The State Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
