Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho, was the feared leader of Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and one of the most wanted drug lords in the world.
On February 22, 2026, the Mexican army carried out a high-profile operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, a stronghold of the CJNG, which resulted in his death.
The operation was supported by intelligence from the United States, and while El Mencho was severely wounded during a shootout with special forces, he succumbed to his injuries during transportation to Mexico City.
Six alleged cartel members were killed alongside him, and three Mexican military personnel were injured.
The operation triggered immediate unrest across five Mexican states, with cartel members torching vehicles and blocking highways, particularly in Guadalajara and Zapopan, while major airlines canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta due to security concerns.
Amid the aftermath of his death, much attention has turned to El Mencho’s family and their potential role in the CJNG’s future.
He was married to Rosalinda González Valencia in 1996. Rosalinda comes from the influential Los Cuinis family, which has historically managed the financial operations of the CJNG.
The couple reportedly legally separated in 2018 but maintained their roles within the cartel network. Together, they have three children: Rubén Oseguera González, Jessica Johanna Oseguera González, and Laisha Oseguera.
Rubén, widely known as “El Menchito,” served as the cartel’s second-in-command under his father. However, his arrest in 2020 and subsequent extradition to the United States removed him from leadership consideration.
In September 2024, he was convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses and sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2025, effectively ending his chances of taking over the cartel (Economic Times, 2026).
Jessica Johanna Oseguera González, also known as “La Negra,” has been involved in managing some of the CJNG’s legitimate business fronts, including sushi and tequila ventures.
Born in San Francisco and holding dual U.S.-Mexico citizenship, she moved to Mexico as a child and studied marketing in Guadalajara.
In February 2020, she was arrested in Washington, D.C., for engaging in financial dealings with companies linked to the CJNG, pleading guilty to five counts. She served approximately 25 months in a U.S. prison and was released in April 2022.
Jessica’s past incarceration and criminal record are seen as limiting factors if she were to assume a leadership role in the cartel.
The youngest daughter, Laisha Oseguera, has largely maintained a low profile but has been linked to cartel operations.
Reports indicate she was involved with Christian Fernando Gutiérrez Ochoa, and the couple was sought by authorities following the kidnapping of two navy personnel in Zapopan in 2021, allegedly as retaliation after Rosalinda’s arrest.
Additionally, El Mencho’s stepson, Juan Carlos Valencia González, known as “El Pelón” or “El R3,” has been identified as a potential successor to the CJNG.
He is the son of Rosalinda and her previous partner, Armando Valencia Cornelio, founder of the now-defunct Milenio Cartel. El Pelón remains a wanted criminal, with a U.S. reward of $5 million offered for information leading to his capture.
With El Mencho’s death, the CJNG faces a period of uncertainty and potential internal conflict.
Security analysts predict retaliatory violence and a struggle for control, with the cartel’s leadership likely to be influenced by both family members and loyal lieutenants within its ranks.
El Mencho’s life and family story reflect the complex networks and generational ties that have sustained the CJNG’s influence in Mexico’s criminal landscape.
His passing marks the end of an era but leaves unresolved questions about who will inherit one of the country’s most notorious criminal empires.
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