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8h ago

U.S. Charges Five CJNG Leaders and Offers $102 Million in Rewards for Pelón and Associates

Officials say the package of indictments, sanctions, visa bans and reward offers is designed to disrupt the cartel’s leadership by isolating its financiers and facilitators.

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Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a press conference to announce new Trump administration actions against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 5, 2026.
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Overview

  • Federal prosecutors on Wednesday unsealed indictments charging five alleged senior members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel for drug trafficking, firearms offenses and related crimes.
  • The State Department announced reward offers totaling up to $102 million, including a $25 million bounty for Juan Carlos Valencia González, known as “Pelón,” whom U.S. officials identify as El Mencho’s successor.
  • Officials said the charges also tie several defendants to a large timeshare fraud that victimized more than 6,000 Americans and yielded roughly $400 million in losses to seniors.
  • The U.S. package includes Treasury sanctions, visa restrictions on 65 family members and associates with 26 visas revoked, and coordinated asset freezes aimed at choking CJNG’s financial networks.
  • Authorities warned the cartel remains resilient and capable of violent backlash after El Mencho’s February death, and said the buildup of legal and financial pressure is meant to create investigative openings and disrupt operations.