Jalisco Cartel Boss El Mencho's Brother-in-Law, El Chepa, Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking in U.S. Federal Court

Jose Gonzalez Valencia, alias "El Chepa," the brother-in-law of Jalisco cartel boss Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, has pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking charges in U.S. federal court.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the United States Department of Justice said El Chepa, 47, "pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, knowing and intending that it would be imported" into the U.S.

Infobae reported that El Mencho's brother-in-law pleaded guilty before a federal court in the District of Columbia on Thursday. He faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted.

El Chepa is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7, 2023. He was arrested at a hotel in Fortaleza, Brazil, in 2017 and was extradited to the U.S. in November last year.

According to the Justice Department, El Mencho's brother-in-law was a leader of the Los Cuinis, an international drug trafficking organization responsible for smuggling large amounts of cocaine from Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala to U.S. territory, between "2006 and October 2016."

American authorities noted that Los Cuinis is closely linked to the Jalisco cartel led by El Mencho. El Chepa previously headed the Los Cuinis group along with his already detained brothers, Abigael Gonzalez Valencia and Gerardo Gonzalez Valencia.

El Chepa is also the brother of Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, alias "La Jefa," who is the wife of El Mencho.

Jalisco Cartel Boss El Mencho's Wife, La Jefa, Is Also in Prison

In May, a judge in Mexico ruled that La Jefa will remain in detention as he dismissed her request to continue facing her trial outside prison. In an appeal to continue her criminal process in freedom, the lawyers of El Mencho's wife argued that she was suffering from a disease that put her life at risk if she did not receive adequate treatment.

In a report, the Federal Public Ministry said La Jefa is suffering from a disease that affects her kidney. She is reportedly receiving corticosteroid-based treatment in two stages, which, if not followed, could cause terminal damage to her organ. However, the judge noted that the arguments of La Jefa's defense team were unfounded.

El Mencho's wife s facing charges for several crimes, including her involvement in the "illicit financial operation" of the Jalisco cartel. La Jefa was first captured in May 2018 in Zapopan, Jalisco, based on an arrest warrant for money laundering.

But four months later, she was released after paying an $82,000 bail bond and with the condition that she had to go to a justice center every Thursday and should not leave the country.

She reportedly failed to comply with these directives. Thus, the court ordered that she be arrested again, which was executed on November 15 last year in Zapopan.

Court records showed that El Mencho's wife was apprehended again because she failed to comply with procedural requirements that made clear that she lacked the will to face her trial "at liberty."

The ruling said El Mencho's wife stopped going every Thursday to sign as a defendant at the Federal Criminal Justice Center of Morelos. She also failed to attend two summonses issued on September 5 and 7, 2018, to appear the following day in the same center.

Court records showed that a federal investigation had linked La Jefa to a network of 73 companies that allegedly laundered about $53 million for the Jalisco cartel between 2015 and 2016. El Mencho's wife is currently being held at the women's prison in Morelos.

El Mencho and the Jalisco Cartel in Mexico

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), is considered one of Mexico's most dangerous and powerful drug cartels. It reportedly had thousands of members and was allegedly involved in mass graves, kidnappings, acid baths, and video recording beheadings.

The Jalisco cartel had risen to power after Mexican security forces killed former Sinaloa Cartel capo Ignacio Coronel, known as "Nacho," in July 2010. Nacho's death resulted in the split of the Sinaloa Cartel into two factions - "La Resistencia" and "Torcidos."

The "Torcidos" became what is now the Jalisco cartel, which has since expanded rapidly in Mexico. The Jalisco cartel is currently being led by El Mencho, who continues to evade capture.

The U.S. government has already offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. El Mencho remains to be the most elusive criminal and is reportedly hiding in Mexico.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Mexico's Most Wanted Drug Kingpin | The War on Drugs - From VICE