Rubén Oseguera, son of a prominent Mexican drug cartel leader, was found guilty Friday of charges related to violent drug trafficking operations, including the downing of a military helicopter.
A federal jury in Washington, D.C. convicted Oseguera, known as “El Menchito,” on two counts: conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for U.S. importation and using a firearm in a drug conspiracy. The verdict came after several hours of deliberation over two days.
Oseguera, 34, is the son of Nemesio Oseguera, the fugitive leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG). The younger Oseguera served as the cartel’s second-in-command before his extradition to the U.S. in February 2020.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence linking Oseguera to numerous violent acts, including ordering the 2015 downing of a Mexican military helicopter that killed at least nine people. They also alleged he was responsible for ordering at least 100 killings and personally killing two individuals.
Attorney General Merrick Garland hailed the conviction, stating, “El Menchito now joins the growing list of high-ranking Cartel leaders that the Justice Department has convicted in an American courtroom.”
The prosecution’s case included testimony from six cooperating witnesses and coded BlackBerry messages exchanged between Oseguera and other cartel members. They also presented physical evidence, including a rifle bearing Oseguera’s nicknames and the cartel’s acronym.
Defense attorney Anthony Colombo attempted to discredit the witnesses, calling them “sociopaths” and “pathological liars.” He also argued that prosecutors lacked evidence of the cartel trafficking drugs into the U.S.
Oseguera, who holds dual U.S.-Mexican citizenship, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 40 years. Sentencing is scheduled for January 10 before U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell.
The U.S. government continues to offer a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Oseguera’s father, known as “El Mencho.”
This conviction marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against international drug cartels and their operations affecting the United States.
