Jalisco Cartel Co-founder Pleads Guilty

Érick Valencia Salazar, a co-founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), pleaded guilty in the U.S. to a federal narcotics conspiracy charge. He faces a mandatory-minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. Salazar, also known as 'El 85', was a key figure in the CJNG, responsible for recruitment and intelligence gathering against rivals. He later formed his own cartel, La Nueva Plaza, after a split with 'El Mencho', El Mencho, who led the CJNG until his death. The U.S. Justice Department highlighted the 'immeasurable damage' inflicted by the CJNG on the U.S. and Mexico. Salazar's guilty plea follows his extradition from Mexico in 2025, and his prior arrests and release in Mexico. The U.S. State Department had offered a $5 million reward for his capture.