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

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A California antheral who co-founded 1 of Mexico's astir almighty and convulsive cause cartels pleaded blameworthy connected Tuesday successful the U.S. to a national narcotics conspiracy charge.

Erick Valencia Salazar formed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel with Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the cause lord known arsenic "El Mencho" who was killed by the Mexican service successful February.

Valencia Salazar, 49, of Santa Clara, California, faces a mandatory-minimum situation condemnation of 10 years and a maximum of beingness successful situation aft pleading blameworthy successful Washington, D.C., to 1 number of conspiring to administer cocaine for U.S. importation. Chief Judge James Boasberg is scheduled to condemnation him connected July 31.

Valencia Salazar was a subordinate of the Milenio Cartel earlier helium 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 accusation astir cartel rivals, prosecutors said.

"He besides utilized accusation astir rival cartels to find and termination CJNG's enemies and summation power of each cause trafficking operations successful peculiar territories successful Mexico," the Justice Department said successful a news release.

Valencia Salazar, besides known arsenic "El 85," formed his ain cartel, La Nueva Plaza, aft parting ways with "El Mencho," who led the CJNG until his death.

A. Tysen Duva, the adjunct lawyer wide successful complaint of the Justice Department's transgression division, said the CJNG has inflicted "immeasurable damage" connected the U.S.

"Valencia Salazar was besides liable for furthering the rampant unit successful Mexico, astatine the disbursal of people's lives and the information of communities, that helped destabilize the portion and let transgression to flourish," Duva said successful a statement.

A expansive assemblage indicted Valencia Salazar connected the conspiracy complaint successful 2018. In February 2025, Mexican authorities sent him to the U.S. arsenic portion of an archetypal group of 29 cause lords.

Last year, President Donald Trump's medication designated the CJNG and different cartels arsenic overseas violent organizations.

Valencia Salazar was arrested doubly successful Mexico. The archetypal clip was successful 2012, erstwhile helium was detained by the subject successful the municipality of Zapopan, adjacent Guadalajara, the superior of the authorities of Jalisco.

Five years later, helium was released from situation by bid of a justice who cited alleged procedural flaws. In 2022, the Army recaptured him successful the municipality of Tapalpa, the aforesaid spot wherever "El Mencho" was captured and killed.

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $5 cardinal for accusation starring to Valencia Salazar's apprehension oregon conviction.

"El Mencho" -- who had a $15 million U.S. bounty connected his caput -- died from aggregate slug wounds during the subject raid successful February, according to the decease certificate obtained by The Associated Press.

A crucifix, spiritual candles and a handwritten psalm were found in Oseguera Cervante's location aft the operation. Mexican authorities said they tracked 1 of his romantic partners to the hideout.

The killing set disconnected violence in immoderate 20 Mexican states. Over 70 people, including 25 Mexican National Guard troops, were killed during the cognition and consequent clashes betwixt the information forces and CJNG gunmen.

Last month, "El Mencho" was buried successful a shiny aureate casket with tremendous angiosperm wreaths and a ample subject presence.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.

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