California man who co-founded powerful Mexican cartel pleads guilty in U.S.

A California man who co-founded one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent drug cartels pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the U.S. to a federal narcotics conspiracy charge.

Erick Valencia Salazar formed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel with Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the drug lord known as “El Mencho” who was killed by the Mexican army in February.

Valencia Salazar, 49, of Santa Clara, California, faces a mandatory-minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison after pleading guilty in Washington, D.C., to one count of conspiring to distribute cocaine for U.S. importation. Chief Judge James Boasberg is scheduled to sentence him on July 31.

Valencia Salazar was a member of the Milenio Cartel before he and Oseguera Cervantes founded the Jalisco cartel, which is known by its Spanish-language acronym CJNG. Hundreds of CJNG members reported to Valencia Salazar, whose duties included recruitment and obtaining information about cartel rivals, prosecutors said.

“He also used information about rival cartels to locate and kill CJNG’s enemies and gain control of all drug trafficking operations in particular territories in Mexico,” the Justice Department said in a news release.

Valencia Salazar, also known as “El 85,” formed his own cartel, La Nueva Plaza, after parting ways with “El Mencho,” who led the CJNG until his death.

A. Tysen Duva, the assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s criminal division, said the CJNG has inflicted “immeasurable damage” on the U.S.

“Valencia Salazar was also responsible for furthering the rampant violence in Mexico, at the expense of people’s lives and the safety of communities, that helped destabilize the region and allow crime to flourish,” Duva said in a statement.

A grand jury indicted Valencia Salazar on the conspiracy charge in 2018. In February 2025, Mexican authorities sent him to the U.S. as part of an initial group of 29 drug lords.

Last year, President Donald Trump’s administration designated the CJNG and other cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Valencia Salazar was arrested twice in Mexico. The first time was in 2012, when he was detained by the military in the municipality of Zapopan, near Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco.

Five years later, he was released from prison by order of a judge who cited alleged procedural flaws. In 2022, the Army recaptured him in the town of Tapalpa, the same place where “El Mencho” was captured and killed.

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Valencia Salazar’s arrest or conviction.

“El Mencho” — who had a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head — died from multiple bullet wounds during the military raid in February, according to the death certificate obtained by The Associated Press.

A crucifix, religious candles and a handwritten psalm were found in Oseguera Cervante’s home after the operation.  Mexican authorities said they tracked one of his romantic partners to the hideout.  

The killing set off violence in some 20 Mexican states. Over 70 people, including 25 Mexican National Guard troops, were killed during the operation and subsequent clashes between the security forces and CJNG gunmen.

Last month, “El Mencho” was buried in a shiny golden casket with enormous flower wreaths and a large military presence. 

Last year, President Donald Trump’s administration designated the CJNG and other cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.