Antonio Oseguera Cervantes’ guilty plea comes almost six months after his brother’s death
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NEED TO KNOW
- Antonio Oseguera Cervantes pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico
- Cervantes, 67, was extradited to the U.S. in 2025 and also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm for drug trafficking
- His brother, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, co-founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations; El Mencho was killed during a Mexican military operation in February
The brother of the late Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader “El Mencho” has pleaded guilty to drug charges in the U.S.
Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, who previously worked with his brother Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, otherwise known as “El Mencho,” pleaded guilty to charges on Friday, July 31, according to court documents seen by PEOPLE.
Cervantes, 67, admitted that he “knowingly, willfully, and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with other other conspirators, both known and unknown, to manufacture and distribute at least 450 kilograms (nearly 1,000 pounds) or more of cocaine and at least 45 kilograms (about 99 pounds or more of methamphetamine, Schedule Il controlled substances, intending and knowing that such substances would be unlawfully imported into the United States.”
Cervantes was involved in the mass drug trafficking conspiracy between 1998 and 2022, per court documents. He pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy.
A previous member of the Milenio Cartel before his brother started his own organization, Cervantes was extradited to the U.S. in February 2025 for prosecution, CBS News reported. Cervantes’ guilty plea comes days after U.S. officials announced new sanctions imposed on about 50 people and organizations currently associated with the cartel, per the outlet.
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El Mencho was killed during a Mexican military operation in February. The late cartel leader co-founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the most powerful organized criminal organizations in Mexico. At the time, officials urged international tourists to pause traveling to the country amid a period of unrest.
Twenty-five members of Mexico’s National Guard were killed during the attacks in Jalisco, CNN reported earlier this year.
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