{"id":2641186,"date":"2026-08-05T19:32:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-puts-25-million-bounty-on-us-born-cartel-leader\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T19:44:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:44:01","slug":"doj-puts-25-million-bounty-on-us-born-cartel-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-puts-25-million-bounty-on-us-born-cartel-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ puts $25 million bounty on US-born cartel leader"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-puts-25-million-bounty-on-us-born-cartel-leader%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2641186&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Trump administration has announced a $25 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Juan Carlos Valencia Gonz\u00e1lez, also known as &#8220;Pel\u00f3n,&#8221; who is believed to lead Mexico\u2019s jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The reward increases the previous $5 million offered by the State Department.This move is part of a broader effort to weaken the cartel&#8217;s leadership, which also includes a total of $100 million in rewards for six other CJNG leaders and restrictions on visas for related individuals. Indictments have been unsealed against five high-ranking CJNG members, including the cartel&#8217;s former leader\u2019s son-in-law, on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-canadian-olympic-snowboarder-turned-drug-lord-sanctioned-by-us\/\" title=\"Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder-turned-drug lord sanctioned by US\">charges including drug trafficking<\/a> of fentanyl and cocaine.Valencia Gonz\u00e1lez, a dual U.S.-Mexico citizen and stepson of the cartel&#8217;s former leader \u201cEl Mencho,\u201d reportedly took control after his stepfather was killed by Mexican forces with U.S. intelligence support. <\/p>\n<p>The DOJ and State Department aim to disrupt the cartel\u2019s operations and leadership.DEA Director Terry Cole emphasized that corruption-both within foreign governments and U.S. officials-is a meaningful enabler of cartel activity, and assured continued efforts to pursue those protecting drug trafficking operations. The DEA also maintains a memorial for fentanyl overdose victims, highlighting the deadly toll of cartel-fueled drug sales. The U.S. designates CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization, operating across multiple Mexican states with activities ranging from drug smuggling to financial crimes. <\/p>\n<p>Recent sanctions have targeted over 50 individuals and entities linked to CJNG, freezing assets and blocking transactions. The Biden administration has increased pressure on Mexico to combat cartels more effectively, with threats from U.S. officials of potential military action. the overall campaign reflects ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to dismantle cartel leadership and curb drug-related violence and crime.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Trump administration<\/a> on Wednesday announced a $25 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the U.S.-born man believed to lead <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mexico\/\">Mexico\u2019s<\/a> powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-department\/\">State Department<\/a> increased its previous $5 million reward for Juan Carlos Valencia Gonz\u00e1lez, known as \u201cPel\u00f3n,\u201d as part of a broader campaign targeting the cartel, commonly known as CJNG. The announcement coincided with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> unsealing indictments against five other high-ranking CJNG figures, including the former leader\u2019s son-in-law and godson, on federal charges, including <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/drugs\/\">trafficking drugs<\/a> such as fentanyl and cocaine.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4676522\/doj-puts-25-million-bounty-on-us-born-cartel-leader\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ puts $25 million bounty on US-born cartel leader<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4676591\/new-mexico-doj-todd-blanche-epstein-lawsuit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>New Mexico sues DOJ and Todd Blanche for allegedly blocking state Epstein investigation<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4676317\/blanche-punts-trump-fire-pirro\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Blanche punts on whether Trump should fire Pirro: \u2018He has the power to do that\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">A Justice Department wanted poster displays rewards totaling $82 million for information leading to the capture of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leaders and associates, including $25 million for alleged cartel leader Juan Carlos Valencia Gonz\u00e1lez, known as \u201cPel\u00f3n.\u201d (Justice Department)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/d9380ac61986395fc32818443fb5328ced084402aa1bf5126272ac11eeb7d392-e1785962412124<\/a>.jpg?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;663&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Justice Department wanted poster displays rewards totaling $82 million for information leading to the capture of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leaders and associates, including $25 million for alleged cartel leader Juan Carlos Valencia Gonz\u00e1lez, known as \u201cPel\u00f3n.\u201d (Justice Department)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valencia Gonz\u00e1lez, a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico, is the stepson of former CJNG leader Nemesio Rub\u00e9n Oseguera Cervantes, or \u201cEl Mencho.\u201d He reportedly took control after Oseguera Cervantes was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4469329\/killing-el-mencho-mexico-cartels-sheinbaum\/\">killed in a Mexican military operation<\/a> in February that was supported by U.S. intelligence.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The State Department said the latest actions were intended to weaken the organization\u2019s leadership. The administration offered a combined $100 million in rewards for six other CJNG leaders and restricted visas for relatives and business associates of cartel members.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At a DOJ news conference in Washington announcing the charges, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dea\/\">Drug Enforcement Administration<\/a> Director Terry Cole also warned officials who protect cartels that political influence would not shield them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you traffic deadly drugs, profit from the suffering of others, or use public office to protect the cartels, this is your warning,\u201d Cole said. \u201cDEA is coming for you. No title, no position, or political connection will shield you.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WEX&#8217;s Kaelan Deese asked DEA administrator Terry Cole whether the U.S. is investigating \u201cforeign governments\u201d protecting criminal Mexican cartel leaders. Cole said, \u201cThere is corruption, and we are going to pursue that.&#8221;\u2060<br \/>MORE: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/7f6RNMwL1L\">https:\/\/t.co\/7f6RNMwL1L<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dVkaheXVQf\">pic.twitter.com\/dVkaheXVQf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/dcexaminer\/status\/2085080463102668919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> whether foreign governments or elected officials could be protecting any of the suspects \u2014 and whether those officials could face charges \u2014 Cole did not identify a particular politician or government, but said the administration viewed \u201ccorruption\u201d enabling cartels as part of their criminal activity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019ve all seen, with a recent indictment that was unsealed in the Southern District of New York, there is corruption, and we are going to pursue that because we see the corruption as one cartel activity,\u201d Cole said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCorruption is cartel activity,\u201d he added. \u201cThey are enablers, and we will pursue it to the ends to protect our citizens and our country.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His remarks come just over three months after federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4548648\/doj-mexican-officials-drugs-sinaloa-cartel\/\">charged Sinaloa Gov. Rub\u00e9n Rocha Moya<\/a> and nine other current and former Mexican officials with drug trafficking and weapons offenses. Prosecutors alleged the officials helped the Sinaloa Cartel move large quantities of narcotics into the United States and shielded its members from law enforcement in exchange for bribes and political support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cole also pointed to the DEA\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dea.gov\/fentanylawareness\">\u201cFaces of Fentanyl\u201d memorial<\/a> on its webpage, saying the agency displays photographs of 7,000 people who died from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fentanyl\/\">fentanyl<\/a> poisoning and that another 25,000 families have asked to add their children.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CJNG is among eight Mexican cartels designated by the United States as foreign terrorist organizations. It operates in 21 of Mexico\u2019s 32 states, with activities ranging from drug smuggling and fuel theft to agriculture and financial fraud.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4655307\/sinaloa-cartel-cofounder-ismael-el-mayo-zambada-sentence-life-prison-15-billion-forfeiture\/#google_vignette\">SINALOA CARTEL COFOUNDER ISMAEL \u2018EL MAYO\u2019 ZAMBADA SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON, AGREES TO $15 BILLION FORFEITURE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The announcement on Wednesday follows <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/home.treasury.gov\/news\/press-releases\/sb0573\">sanctions imposed in July<\/a> on more than 50 people and companies connected to CJNG, including Valencia Gonz\u00e1lez. Those sanctions froze assets under U.S. jurisdiction and blocked financial transactions with the designated targets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The administration has also increased pressure on Mexican President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/claudia-sheinbaum\/\">Claudia Sheinbaum<\/a> to take stronger action against cartels, with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> threatening possible U.S. military action against the groups.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump admin offers $25M for cartel leader&#8217;s arrest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2641187,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26217621913349.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[83747,7112,61191,83748],"class_list":["post-2641186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bounty-program","tag-cartel","tag-federal-law-enforcement","tag-us-criminal-justice"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26217621913349.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2641186"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641190,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641186\/revisions\/2641190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2641186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2641186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2641186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}