Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, a prominent member of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), has been charged with federal crimes after allegedly faking his own death and living under a false identity in California, the U.S. Justice Department revealed on Thursday.
Gutierrez-Ochoa, who is the son-in-law of the cartel’s leader, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, was evading Mexican authorities when he entered the U.S. Under a new identity, he settled into a luxury home in Riverside, California, where he was apprehended earlier this month, according to prosecutors.
Cristian Gutierrez-Ochoa faces drug trafficking and money laundering charges following arrest
The 37-year-old, also known as “Guacho,” now faces charges related to international drug trafficking and money laundering. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco commented on the case, stating, “The Jalisco Cartel, one of the most violent and extensive drug trafficking organizations globally, has been weakened by law enforcement’s relentless efforts to capture a cartel leader who faked his death and took on a false identity to live a luxurious life in California.”
Prosecutors assert that before his disappearance, Gutierrez-Ochoa was responsible for overseeing the transportation and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico to the U.S. He is also accused of kidnapping two members of the Mexican Navy in an effort to free his mother-in-law, El Mencho’s wife, following her arrest.
According to officials, El Mencho helped Gutierrez-Ochoa fake his death, telling cartel members he had killed him for lying. This deception allowed Gutierrez-Ochoa to flee to California, where he reportedly resumed managing the cartel’s drug operations from within the U.S.
Shortly after arriving in California, the CJNG allegedly set up a fraudulent tequila business, which was used to purchase Gutierrez-Ochoa’s Riverside home for $1.2 million in cash, as outlined in court documents. The cartel is said to have employed fake tequila brands to launder the proceeds from drug sales.
Despite living openly in California for over a year, Gutierrez-Ochoa took measures to avoid detection. Federal authorities claim he engaged in counter-surveillance against agents monitoring him. While the Department of Justice’s announcement did not provide specific details on his arrest, it was confirmed that he was taken into custody on Tuesday.
In addition to charging Gutierrez-Ochoa, the Justice Department indicted El Mencho in 2022 for his role in manufacturing and distributing fentanyl in the U.S. El Mencho remains at large, and the State Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his capture or conviction.
