A senior leader of a notorious Mexican drug cartel, who assumed a false identity and faked his death to evade capture, has been apprehended on federal charges, according to the Justice Department, reports the Associated Press.

Cristian Fernando Gutierrez Ochoa, 37, the son-in-law of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” was arrested this week in Riverside, California. Gutierrez Ochoa had been residing in the U.S. under a false name after fleeing Mexico, prosecutors said.

(1/15) #LosAngeles #California Cristian Fernando Gutiérrez Ochoa, yerno de Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho”, fue arrestado el pasado 19 de noviembre en Riverside, California. La historia, digna de un guion de Hollywood, expone los vínculos del Cártel de Jalisco Nueva… pic.twitter.com/E1zPkAJNZ7

— Illicit Investigations (@illicitinv) November 22, 2024

The Justice Department stated that Gutierrez Ochoa faked his death to avoid Mexican authorities after allegedly kidnapping two members of the Mexican Navy in 2021. “El Mencho” reportedly spread rumors of his son-in-law’s death to help him escape to the U.S. and reunite with “El Mencho’s” daughter.

Prosecutors accuse Gutierrez Ochoa of conspiring to traffic thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States and employing violence to support the cartel’s illegal operations. He also allegedly orchestrated the kidnapping of the Mexican Navy members in an attempt to secure the release of “El Mencho’s” wife, who had been detained by Mexican authorities.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco praised law enforcement efforts in the case:
“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 and live a life of luxury in California.”

The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the capture of “El Mencho,” whose alias is derived from his first name.

In related developments, “El Mencho’s” son, Rubén Oseguera, also known as “El Menchito,” was convicted in September by a U.S. federal court on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for U.S. importation and using firearms in furtherance of a drug conspiracy. His conviction includes allegations of violent acts, such as orchestrating the deadly downing of a military helicopter, to aid his father’s extensive narcotics trafficking network.