WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has increased the reward for Juan Carlos “Pelón” González to $25 million, targeting the emergent leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in a bid to dismantle the organization’s command structure. The State Department raised the bounty from a previous $5 million offer as part of a broader $100 million reward package aimed at various CJNG leaders.
Targeting a U.S. Citizen
González, a dual U.S.-Mexican national and stepson of slain former leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, is reported to have assumed control of the cartel. The group was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the administration, a classification that expands the tools available for targeting its financial networks. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the cartels "use violence and fear to maintain control over the importation of deadly narcotics in the United States, including fentanyl, cocaine, meth, and other illegal drugs. Their actions spread violence and death to our communities."
This domestic focus comes as the cartel is assessed to have a presence in 21 of Mexico’s 32 states, with operations extending deep into American cities. The administration concurrently restricted visas for family members and business associates of cartel members, a move that protects American communities from individuals facilitating criminal enterprise under the guise of legitimate travel.
Indictments and Sanctions
Alongside the increased reward, federal prosecutors unsealed new trafficking and firearms charges against five other high-ranking CJNG figures, including Oseguera Cervantes’ former son-in-law and godson. This legal action follows recent sanctions imposed on 50 individuals and entities linked to the cartel, including González, which froze their U.S. assets and prohibited American financial transactions. The measures reflect an economic nationalist approach to security, targeting the illicit financial pipelines that exploit global trade loopholes to the detriment of American workers and public health.
"This is a fight against CJNG that we are just beginning, and we will not back down," said DEA head Terrance Cole.
The pressure campaign coincides with demands on the government of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to intensify its own crackdown, with the U.S. reserving all options to defend its national interests against an organization whose business model floods American streets with narcotics.