U.S. raises reward to $25 million for alleged CJNG leader

By Cartel Insider Wire Desk · Edited by Mica Treviño

Infobae México · Sep 17, 2026 · 15:03 CT

What happened

The United States increased its reward for information leading to the capture of Juan Carlos Valencia González, known as “El 03” or “El Pelón,” whom Infobae México describes as the alleged CJNG leader after the death of “El Mencho.”

El padre que le enseñó todo en el CNJG: el corrido de Juan Carlos Valencia en el que agradece a El Mencho quien era su padrastro — Juan Carlos Valencia González, alias “El 03”, tomó el control del CJNG tras la muerte de “El Mencho”, marcando el paso a una nueva generación de liderazgo criminal. (DEA) · Image source: Infobae México

Reporting and context

The United States has raised its reward for information leading to the capture of Juan Carlos Valencia González, known as “El 03” or “El Pelón,” to $25 million, according to Infobae México. The report describes him as the alleged leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) after the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho.” U.S. authorities have not announced his capture.

Ilustración de un hombre de camisa oscura ante un tablero de ajedrez con soldados y una placa dorada con las letras DEA. — Un retrato ilustrado de Juan Carlos Valencia González se presenta junto a un tablero de ajedrez con figuras armadas y una placa de la DEA. (Imagen Ilustrativa Infobae) · Image source: Infobae México

Infobae México reported that the reward was announced Aug. 5, 2026, alongside criminal charges against eight CJNG leaders and a package totaling up to $102 million for fugitives linked to the cartel. The amount for Valencia González exceeds the $15 million reward previously offered for Oseguera Cervantes. The report said Valencia González was born Sept. 12, 1984, in Santa Ana, California, and has dual nationality.

Póster de "Se Busca" del Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación con ocho fotografías de personas, montos de recompensas y logos de agencias de Estados Unidos — El Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos anunció recompensas por más de USD 100 millones contra ocho líderes del Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (DEA) · Image source: Infobae México

The account traces Valencia González’s family ties to three criminal organizations. His biological father, Armando Valencia Cornelio, “El Maradona,” founded the now-defunct Millennium Cartel, while his mother’s brother, Abigael González Valencia, led Los Cuinis. The report says Nemesio Oseguera helped raise Valencia González and was his stepfather, although a 2020 corrido presented Oseguera as a father figure and ranked him as “No. 1,” with Rubén Oseguera González, “El Menchito,” as “No. 2” and Valencia González as “No. 3.”

U.S. and Mexican authorities have linked Valencia González to armed cells known as Grupo Delta and Grupo Élite, according to the report. It cites judicial documents, Sedena reports and the National Counterterrorism Center in describing alleged disputes with rival groups, kidnappings and drug-trafficking charges. The center estimated that the CJNG had between 15,000 and 20,000 members across eight Mexican states; that estimate and the other allegations remain attributable claims, not court findings.

Contextual English newsroom rewrite based on Infobae México. Claims and allegations remain attributed to the publisher or officials it cites. Read the original report.