'El Mencho's' Son-in-Law 'El Guacho', 37, Arrested in California After Faking Death in 2021

Nov 21, 2024, 08:55 PM

Cristian Fernando Gutiérrez Ochoa, 37, a high-ranking member of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and son-in-law of its leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," has been arrested in Riverside, California, on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. Gutiérrez Ochoa, also known as "El Guacho," had allegedly faked his own death in 2021 to evade justice, changed his identity, and lived a life of luxury in a California mansion. U.S. authorities accuse him of being a key figure in the CJNG's leadership for the past 10 years, directing the importation of tons of methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States. He reportedly fled Mexico after executing two members of the Mexican Navy (SEMAR). The arrest was announced by the U.S. Department of Justice.