Washington identified a network of 55 names linked to the criminal organization, highlighting a compact group of long-serving figures who now report directly to Valencia. Out of this inner circle, five key bosses remain free and operating in Mexico, while one has already been arrested.
The Rise of R3 and the New CJNG Hierarchy
Speculation regarding El Mencho’s successor circulated for months, featuring multiple candidates within the organization. In the hierarchical schema released by United States authorities, several of those previously rumored names now sit beneath Valencia. Also known as “El Pelón,” Valencia belongs to a prominent criminal clan that includes his mother and uncle, Rosalinda and Abigael González Valencia, who are tied to the Michoacán-based Los Cuinis group. The United States government offers a five-million-dollar reward for information leading to the capture of R3.
Did You Know?
Before Juan Carlos Valencia González secured absolute leadership, United States authorities had identified Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez, known as “El Chorro” and recognized as El Mencho’s son-in-law, as a potential successor to Oseguera as recently as July 2025.
Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán and the Enforcers of Jalisco
Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, known as “El Sapo,” acts as the highest-ranking member of Valencia’s new inner circle and serves as his right hand, replacing Audias Flores Silva, “El Jardinero,” who was arrested in April. At 37 years old, El Sapo has operated as plaza boss in Puerto Vallarta and managed the forced recruitment of new cartel members in Jalisco. The Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office linked El Sapo to Rancho Izaguirre in Teuchitlán, a facility where the CJNG trained and tortured recruits. He is also connected to the 2023 disappearance of five youths in Lagos de Moreno, the 2020 assassination of former Jalisco governor Aristóteles Sandoval, and a 2015 police ambush that killed 15 state agents.
Francisco Javier Gudiño Haro, known as “La Gallina” and aged 38, was also named by the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office as an operator of Rancho Izaguirre alongside El Sapo. United States authorities identify Gudiño Haro and Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela, known as “La Firma,” as leaders of a CJNG armed group based in Puerto Vallarta that orchestrates the murders of rivals and politicians. Both men historically answered to El Sapo, according to the administration of Donald Trump.
International Operations, Financial Crimes, and State Response
Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela, a 40-year-old native of Colombia, participated in the assassination of former governor Sandoval and managed the territorial expansion and money laundering operations of the CJNG. According to an investigation by The Washington Post based on Mexican prosecution files, Rivera Varela also planned the 2020 assassination attempt against Omar García Harfuch, who served as Mexico City’s security secretary at the time and currently heads the federal ministry.
The ground execution of the attack against García Harfuch was carried out by Julio César Montero Pinzón, known as “El Tarjetas.” Beyond leading the daylight assault in the capital, Washington held El Tarjetas responsible for acquiring 350 million dollars through a timeshare fraud scheme that affected some 6,000 United States citizens between 2019 and 2024. Meanwhile, Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez, “El Chorro,” controls the Port of Manzanillo in Colima, facilitating precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
"The measures of today hit the leaders, financers, and criminal networks of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, depriving the cartel of the resources it uses to traffic fentanyl, terrorize communities, and threaten American lives," stated United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. President Claudia Sheinbaum has chosen to collaborate with United States security authorities, while bilateral trade discussions continue concerning the future of the USMCA free trade agreement amid pressure from Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the CJNG following the death of Nemesio Oseguera, “El Mencho”?
Absolute leadership of the cartel has passed to Juan Carlos Valencia González, also known as R3 or “El Pelón,” who is one of the capo’s stepsons.
What actions have United States and Mexican authorities taken against the leadership?
What specific crimes are linked to members of Valencia’s inner circle?
Members of the network have been linked by authorities to forced recruitment, the Rancho Izaguirre training camp, the murders of politicians including former Jalisco governor Aristóteles Sandoval, the attack on federal official Omar García Harfuch, and a timeshare fraud scheme generating millions.
What impact will these joint financial sanctions have on the operational capabilities of the CJNG’s newly established leadership network in Mexico?
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