After the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, or “El Mencho,” some might expect calm to settle in. However, the Jalisco cartel is set for a new leadership change, with a likely successor emerging from California.
Juan Carlos Valencia González has risen as the top candidate to inherit the cartel’s criminal empire, valued at around $20 billion, following the raid that led to El Mencho’s demise over the weekend.
At 41, Juan Carlos is the stepson of the cartel’s former leader. His mother, Rosalinda “La Jefa” González Valencia, was previously married to a drug lord and has been a significant financial force within the organization.
Some analysts speculate that she might take charge herself, but many believe she will support her son in this new role.
Known by various aliases like El Peron, Tricky Torres, and O3, Juan Carlos is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, born in 1984 in Santa Ana, California.
Although details about his upbringing are sparse, it’s known that his parents, Rosalinda and Armando Valencia Cornelio, were active in cartels during his childhood in California.
His involvement in drug trade-related crimes came to light in 2020. The DEA uncovered his connection to a series of violent incidents starting in 2007, and involvement in producing and selling significant quantities of narcotics.
In July 2020, he was identified in a video by Mexico’s then-defense secretary, which featured armed members of the Jalisco cartel.
Later that year, a federal indictment was placed on him by the U.S. government, accusing him of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and using firearms in drug trafficking, alongside a $5 million bounty for information leading to his capture.
“This announcement reflects our ongoing commitment to pursuing those who inflict harm on our communities,” noted DEA Administrator Ann Milgram at the time.
Before his recent death, Juan Carlos was recognized as “de facto second-in-command” of the cartel, according to the National Counterterrorism Center.
There are rumors that he has already been declared the new leader, but these remain unverified. Security analyst David Saucedo mentioned that Juan Carlos might not yet possess the necessary influence over other cartel commanders to effectively take the reins.
If leadership of the Jalisco Cartel continues within the family, he’s likely to be the only option they have.
El Mencho’s brother, Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, was apprehended last year in the U.S., along with numerous other cartel leaders. Meanwhile, Ruben Oseguerra Gonzalez, another family member, is serving a lengthy prison sentence and was forced to relinquish $6 billion related to his drug operations.
Experts express concern that the violence witnessed across Mexico could reoccur if cartels reorganize. Saucedo remarked that the attack on El Mencho seemed aimed at definitive elimination rather than just capture.
Following El Mencho’s death during a confrontation with security forces in Jalisco, cartel members have disrupted activities significantly in Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, employing barricades and halting flights.
These actions appear designed to undermine economic stability and tarnish the image of leftist President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, according to Saucedo.
Reports indicate that about 30 individuals may have lost their lives in the violence, which has impacted approximately two-thirds of the country.
