Life Imprisonment? That is The Sentence ‘El Inge’ Faces Following His Confession In The U.S.

Six months after being transferred to the United States, Hernán Giovanni Ojeda Elenes—alias “El Inge”—pleaded guilty in U.S. court to charges related to the production and importation of fentanyl for the Sinaloa Cartel. The plea was entered on August 27, 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Additionally, Ojeda Elenes admitted responsibility for a conspiracy involving the illegal distribution and importation of chemical substances used to manufacture these drugs. “El Inge” was one of 37 individuals transferred from Mexico to the United States on January 20, 2026, in an operation that placed several high-profile targets in U.S. custody. 

Who is “El Inge”? According to court documents, Hernán Giovanni Ojeda Elenes is 48 years old, a native of Culiacán, Sinaloa, and the son of Hernán Ojeda López, known as “El Mero Mero.” He is also related to Ovidio and Joaquín Guzmán López—members of “Los Chapitos”—who are facing legal proceedings in the United States. 

U.S. authorities maintain that “El Inge” participated for several years in an organization dedicated to the production and distribution of these substances. Case documents indicate that these activities took place between 2019 and 2024; during this period, Ojeda Elenes allegedly acquired large quantities of chemical precursors from Chinese companies and subsequently shipped them to a laboratory in Mexico. 

The Department of Justice noted that the acquired substances included 4-piperidone and N-phenylpiperidine—compounds used in manufacturing processes. U.S. authorities assert that, during the period under investigation, “El Inge” was responsible for the production and distribution of several metric tons of fentanyl. 

When will he be sentenced? Judge Ana C. Reyes accepted the guilty plea, but no date has yet been set for sentencing. Ojeda Elenes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment. The final sentence will be determined later by the court, taking into account federal guidelines and other factors established by U.S. law. 

The case once again places U.S. investigations into members and operatives linked to the Sinaloa Cartel in the spotlight—but this time with a guilty plea that could result in one of the harshest sentences provided for under the U.S. federal justice system.

Source: Milenio