The son of a Mexican drug cartel leader, Rubén Oseguera, known as “El Menchito,” has been convicted of charges related to helping his father operate a dangerous narcotics trafficking organization. The younger Oseguera was found guilty of conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for U.S. importation, as well as using a firearm in a drug conspiracy. He served as the second-in-command of the Jalisco New Generation cartel before his extradition to the U.S. in February 2020. Oseguera faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 40 years.
Prosecutors presented evidence to the jury, including a rifle bearing Oseguera’s nicknames, “Menchito” and “JR,” along with the cartel’s acronym. The gun was in his possession when he was arrested, and his alias, “JR,” was found on a belt at the site where a Mexican military helicopter was shot down in 2015. Oseguera ordered subordinates to shoot down the helicopter to avoid capture, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people on board. Prosecutors also alleged that Oseguera ordered the killings of at least 100 people and was involved in various acts of violence, including shootings and kidnappings.
During the trial, jurors heard from six cooperating witnesses who tied Oseguera to drug trafficking activities. Defense attorney Anthony Colombo attacked the credibility of these witnesses, calling them “sociopaths” who told self-serving lies about his client. Jurors also saw coded BlackBerry messages exchanged by Oseguera with other cartel leaders and underlings, indicating his involvement in drug distribution activities. Prosecutors argued that Oseguera used extreme acts of violence to maintain his family’s power over a global drug trafficking operation, including in the U.S.
The U.S. government has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest of Oseguera’s father, Nemesio Oseguera, also known as “El Mencho.” Prosecutors described the younger Oseguera as “a prince, an heir to an empire” and portrayed his involvement in drug trafficking as a tale of drugs, guns, and murder. The defense argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove the CJNG cartel’s drug trafficking activities in the U.S., citing a lack of seizures as proof. However, prosecutors maintained that Oseguera played a significant role in the cartel’s operations and was instrumental in deciding who worked with him and for him.
Oseguera, who holds dual U.S.-Mexican citizenship, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10 by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell. His conviction adds to the list of high-ranking cartel leaders that the Justice Department has successfully prosecuted in an American courtroom. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed gratitude to Mexican law enforcement partners for their cooperation in holding cartel leaders accountable. Despite the younger Oseguera’s conviction, his father remains a fugitive, and efforts to apprehend him continue.
