Mexican Cartel Leader Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Prison for International Money Laundering

A foreign national and a leader of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) was sentenced today to 140 months in prison and three years of supervised release for an international money laundering offense.

"Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa epitomizes the arrogance of the cartels - laundering millions in drug profits, stockpiling cash and ghost guns, kidnapping military officials, and believing he could live in luxury and anonymity on American soil," said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. "He was wrong. Today's sentencing sends a clear message: DEA is dismantling CJNG piece by piece - the financiers, the lieutenants, the safe houses, and the pipelines that sustain these narco-terrorists. We are targeting their money, their leadership, and their infrastructure, and we will not stop until these organizations are eliminated, and American lives are no longer threatened by their greed."

"Cristian Gutierrez-Ochoa laundered money for one of the most violent and prolific cartels in Mexico and funded his lavish lifestyle - including luxury homes, cars, watches and jewelry - with its drug trafficking proceeds," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Cartels like the CJNG traffic substantial quantities of illegal drugs into the United States, profiting from their distribution at the expense of people's lives and the safety of our communities. Gutierrez-Ochoa's sentence demonstrates the Criminal Division's commitment to disrupting and dismantling dangerous drug trafficking organizations, including CJNG, and keeping our country safe."

According to court documents, Gutierrez-Ochoa, 28, of Michoacán, Mexico, worked with other CJNG operatives in Mexico and the United States to launder millions in U.S. currency of CJNG drug proceeds, including to purchase a luxurious residential property in Riverside, California. Gutierrez-Ochoa lived in that residence under a fictitious identity for at least a year with the daughter of the CJNG leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho. The residence was purchased under the name of a Mexican company owned and controlled by the CJNG. Gutierrez-Ochoa admitted to keeping over $2.2 million of drug proceeds in bulk cash at the residence and possessing two untraceable firearms in furtherance of the underlying money laundering offense. Gutierrez-Ochoa also used CJNG drug proceeds to purchase items of value, including jewelry, watches and vehicles.

Gutierrez-Ochoa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder CJNG's drug proceeds. As part of his plea agreement, Gutierrez-Ochoa agreed to forfeit the residence and the seized bulk cash, jewelry, watches, vehicles and other items of value.

Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly entered the United States illegally in part to avoid arrest in Mexico. Specifically, in late 2021, Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy to force the Mexican authorities to release El Mencho's wife from custody.

The DEA's Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit Los Angeles investigated the case. The Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.

Trial Attorneys Kaitlin Sahni, Lernik Begian and Douglas Meisel of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) prosecuted the case. Trial Attorneys Stephanie Williamson and Chelsea Rooney of MNF assisted with the forfeiture proceedings.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Homeland Security Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods.