California Man Pleads Guilty in Drug Conspiracy
A man from California, who helped establish the Jalisco New Generation cartel, has entered a guilty plea to federal drug conspiracy charges in U.S. federal court and is now waiting for sentencing. The Jalisco cartel is recognized as one of the most formidable drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico, notorious for employing numerous armed personnel and frequently using explosives in violent assaults across the country. The U.S. government has designated CJNG as one of six Mexican cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations.
This week, Eric “El85” Valencia Salazar, 49, from Santa Clara, appeared before a federal judge and accepted guilt on a single count of drug conspiracy. Prosecutors decided to drop several other charges against him. Valencia’s sentencing is set for July 31, and he is facing a minimum of 10 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence.
This plea comes just weeks after a U.S.-assisted military operation in Mexico resulted in the death of CJNG’s co-founder and primary leader, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguerra Cervantes, along with two other high-ranking members.
According to details from the U.S. Department of Justice, Valencia and his family initially collaborated with other cartels before creating the Milenio Cartel and its financial division, called Los Quinis, which operated quietly for several years. Under El Mencho’s command, the Milenio Cartel transformed into CJNG, rapidly elevating its status to one of Mexico’s most dreaded cartels. This rise was marked by extreme violence and tactics akin to terrorism to assert power. CJNG has been associated with gruesome crime scenes in Mexico where victims face horrific fates, including being incinerated, and disturbing videos circulated on social media depict CJNG members engaging in cannibalism of their enemies.
Reports indicate that CJNG actively recruited Colombian terrorists to form a militia and enhance their explosive capabilities. Over time, the cartel began utilizing drones for explosive delivery, a method that has since been adopted by other cartels in Mexico.
