The son of fugitive Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) boss was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to forfeit over $6 billion in drug trafficking proceeds after being convicted of running one of Mexico's most violent criminal organizations.
Rubén Oseguera, known as "El Menchito," was second-in-command of CJNG for seven years before his extradition to the United States in February 2020, AP News reported. The cartel, notorious for its brutality, has been responsible for mass killings, drug trafficking and attacks on Mexican authorities.
Oseguera, who joined the cartel as a teenager, played a key role in expanding its operations, ordering murders and overseeing vast shipments of cocaine and methamphetamine destined for the U.S.
He was arrested in Mexico multiple times before his eventual extradition. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell sentenced 35-year-old Oseguera to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to traffic drugs and using firearms in furtherance of cartel activities.
Prosecutors detailed his role in at least 100 murders, including personally killing at least six people and ordering the downing of a Mexican military helicopter in 2015, which resulted in nine deaths.
The court also ordered him to forfeit $6 billion in drug profits, reflecting the cartel's extensive influence in the narcotics trade.
With Oseguera imprisoned, authorities remain focused on capturing his father, Nemesio Oseguera, also known as "El Mencho," who remains at large with a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Originally published on Latin Times
