Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, alias "El Menchito," the son of Jalisco cartel boss Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, was due to plead guilty in a Washington, D.C. court this week. However, his plan seemed to change after a new lawyer hired by his family showed up.

El Menchito was supposed to plead guilty on Wednesday, April 12, to an international conspiracy to traffic drugs and possession of firearms before Judge Beryl Alaine Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.

But according to VICE, the plea deal has been put on hold as the 33-year-old son of El Mencho is reconsidering taking his case to trial, which is set to begin on May 3, with the jury selection. 

El Menchito was foreseen to be the first high-profile Jalisco cartel figure to take his case to trial.

El Menchito is known to inherit the cartel throne from his father in Mexico, as he was considered by the U.S. the second in command of the notorious organization.

El Mencho's son reportedly notified prosecutors late last month that he would like to change his plea to guilty. 

However, a day before he was scheduled to change his plea, federal prosecutors filed a motion asking the judge to hold a "conflict inquiry" over a new lawyer seeking to represent El Menchito in his case.

Prosecutors said lawyer Arturo Hernandez was "purportedly retained by the defendant's family on his behalf."

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Jalisco Cartel Boss El Mencho's Son, El Menchito, on Changing His Plea

Prosecutors noted that several close relatives of El Mencho's son also face charges in related cases that may result in potential conflicts of interest with the new lawyer.

According to the VICE report, the prosecutors told the judge, "The government has concerns about a potential conflict of interest if Mr. Hernandez is retained and/or receiving attorney's fees from the defendant's family members who are charged in related cases or individuals acting on behalf of those family members."

During the court hearing on Wednesday, Arturo Hernandez showed up as he attempted to appear on behalf of El Menchito.

However, Beryl Alaine Howell questioned the lawyer's "last minute" appearance in the court handling El Menchito's case, which she said has "been pending on my docket for years."

"This is not the way I do business," the judge said. Hernandez then noted that he had been retained by El Menchito "the day prior," as he had a conflict with his other defense lawyers.

The lawyer then told the judge that he would seek to delay the trial since it would be hard for his client to proceed when he "has a conflict with his attorneys," but Howell said, "No, no, no."

The judge then told El Mencho's son that just because he wanted a new lawyer does not mean "you automatically get it."

El Menchito replied that he only wanted "a second opinion" as he was "not happy" with the plea. He then appealed for more time and to postpone the trial.

Howell eventually agreed to postpone the hearing to give El Mencho's son time to get his "second opinion." The judge reportedly scheduled another hearing on April 21 to determine what happens next.  

Arrest of Jalisco Cartel Boss El Mencho's Son, El Menchito

 El Menchito was first arrested in Zapopan in Mexico's Jalisco state on January 2014, but a federal court acquitted him in December of the same year for lack of evidence.

He was apprehended again on June 2015. Since then, he has remained in prison. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charged El Mencho's son with international drug trafficking in 2017.

The U.S. government submitted its extradition request for El Menchito the same year, which Mexico's Secretariat of Foreign Affairs granted in October 2018. He was extradited to the U.S. in February 2020 after several appeals.

After a few days, El Menchito pleaded not guilty to drug conspiracy and possession of firearms charges before a U.S. judge, Courthouse News Service reported.

During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Reynolds urged the judge to keep El Mencho's son in custody, reminding him that his father is one of Mexico's most powerful drug kingpins.

Reynolds also argued at the time that the defendant was a "high flight risk" and "would have the means to escape if given the opportunity." El Menchito is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

The U.S. government has already offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of El Menchito's father, El Mencho. The Jalisco cartel boss remains one of the world's most elusive criminals.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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