Erick Valencia Salazar, a California resident and co-founder of Mexico’s powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), pleaded guilty Tuesday in a U.S. federal court to conspiracy to distribute cocaine for importation into the United States. The 49-year-old, who cultivated the cartel alongside Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes—known as “El Mencho” and killed by Mexican forces earlier this year—faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for July 31 in Washington, D.C.
Role in the CJNG and La Nueva Plaza
Before establishing the CJNG, Valencia Salazar was associated with the Milenio Cartel. Prosecutors describe him as a key figure who managed hundreds of cartel members and oversaw recruitment and intelligence gathering against rival groups. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, he used detailed information about competing cartels to target and eliminate CJNG adversaries, consolidating control over drug trafficking territories within Mexico. After parting ways with Oseguera Cervantes, Valencia Salazar formed a new cartel called La Nueva Plaza.
Arrests and Extradition to the U.S.
Valencia Salazar was first apprehended in 2012 near Guadalajara, Jalisco, by Mexican military forces. He was later released in 2017 following a judge’s ruling citing procedural errors. The Mexican Army recaptured him in 2022 at Tapalpa—the same location where “El Mencho” was ultimately killed in February 2026 during a military raid. Mexican authorities extradited Valencia Salazar to the U.S. in February 2025 as part of a group transfer of 29 high-profile drug lords. The U.S. State Department had offered up to $5 million for information leading to his capture or conviction.
Legal and Regional Impact
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva called the CJNG responsible for “immeasurable damage” in the United States, citing the cartel’s role in violent crime and destabilization of communities on both sides of the border. The CJNG, designated as a foreign terrorist organization during the previous U.S. administration, has been linked to extensive violent conflicts in Mexico. The death of “El Mencho” triggered increased violence across approximately 20 Mexican states, resulting in over 70 deaths, including 25 members of the Mexican National Guard.
Why it matters
Valencia Salazar’s guilty plea represents a major development in U.S. efforts to dismantle the CJNG, one of Mexico’s deadliest and most expansive drug trafficking organizations. His cooperation and sentencing may affect ongoing law enforcement actions targeting international narcotics distribution networks and cartel-related violence.
Background
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, formed by Valencia Salazar and “El Mencho,” is considered one of the most violent criminal enterprises within Mexico and has been instrumental in intensifying drug-related violence and narcotics trafficking into the U.S. The CJNG controls significant drug trafficking corridors and has clashed frequently with rival cartels and government forces over territorial dominance. The cartel’s expansion and militarization have posed major challenges to law enforcement agencies in both countries.
Read more World News stories on Goka World News.