**Federal Judge Upholds Prison Sentence for Wife of ‘El Mencho’**
On September 12, 2024, a federal judge at the Federal Criminal Justice Center in Morelos, located in Xochitepec, refused to allow Rosalinda González Valencia, also known as “La Jefa” and wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), to contest her 5-year prison sentence from outside jail. She has been convicted of organized crime intending to commit crimes against health and money laundering.
The federal judge decided the conditions under which González Valencia was originally granted preventive detention still existed, primarily the risk of her fleeing. Consequently, her lawyers’ request for provisional freedom or house arrest was denied.
The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) released a statement confirming this decision was made during a hearing requested by González Valencia’s legal team. The FGR explained the defense had recently submitted a request to the Federal Criminal Justice Center in Morelos to lift the preventive detention imposed on her in December 2021. The hearing was held in person at the Justice Center’s facilities, where the judge ultimately ruled that González Valencia would remain in prison.
Earlier this year, on May 14, the FGR filed an appeal against a decision by a judge who, on April 16, 2024, had ruled not to bring González Valencia to trial for organized crime. This appeal fall was admitted by an appellate court on May 8, 2024.
Interestingly, González Valencia was previously acquitted in similar charges in April 2024. This was after a compliant judge ruled that transcriptions of intercepted telephone calls, which were used in another case to convict her, were not valid. Despite this, she had been sentenced to five years in prison in December 2023 for money laundering.
González Valencia has faced accusations of being involved with the Valencia Cartel from the mid-1990s to early 2000s and later with the CJNG. However, it was determined there was no definitive evidence to confirm these allegations based on the intercepted phone calls.
### Additional Coverage on the Case
**Nationwide Crackdowns on CJNG Associates**
Recent weeks have seen intensified efforts by Mexican authorities to clamp down on associates of the CJNG. Law enforcement conducted a series of raids, leading to multiple arrests of individuals linked to money laundering and drug trafficking operations. The efforts underscore the government’s commitment to dismantling one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent drug cartels.
**Legal Battles Continue for CJNG Leaders**
González Valencia’s case is just one among many involving top CJNG leaders. Legal experts suggest that the ongoing trials and appeals signal a challenging legal environment for the cartel. With several key figures already sentenced and others in the process, it appears that Mexican authorities are doubling down on judicial processes to curb the cartel’s influence.
**Community Impact and Recovery**
Local communities impacted by the CJNG’s operations have begun seeing gradual improvements in public safety and economic stability. NGOs and government programs are actively working in previously cartel-dominated regions to rebuild infrastructure and provide support to residents. These efforts aim to prevent the resurgence of organized crime by addressing its root causes.
**International Implications**
The progress in the CJNG cases has not gone unnoticed by international observers. Collaborations between Mexican authorities and international agencies, particularly the United States DEA, have proven effective. This international cooperation is expected to continue as both nations strive to eradicate the cross-border threats posed by the cartel.
For more updates on this and related stories, stay tuned to TJGringo.com.