A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for unlawful importation into the United States. Using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. . According to court documents, Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, 67, of Michoacán, Mexico, trafficked cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States for Mexico-based cartels for over two decades.
Key details of the case
From around 2002 to 2010, Oseguera Cervantes operated as a member of the Milenio Cartel in Jalisco, Mexico, overseeing narcotics sales, protecting territories from rival cartels. Supervising and maintaining the operations of methamphetamine laboratories. He procured precursor chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine and distributed methamphetamine and cocaine destined for the United States. .
Moreover, the court filings state that since around 2010, Oseguera Cervantes worked with and reported directly to his notorious and now-deceased brother, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “Mencho,” who co-founded and led the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). The CJNG is one of the most prolific and dangerous drug cartels in Mexico, based in the State of Jalisco. Traffics multi-tonnage quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States.
Meanwhile, oseguera Cervantes furthered CJNG’s drug trafficking operations, including by supplying precursor chemicals to CJNG methamphetamine laboratories and distributing cocaine and methamphetamine for the CJNG. He also collected drug proceeds and managed CJNG’s money laundering activities, such as transferring drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico through currency exchange locations. When collecting drug proceeds or attending meetings to discuss drug trafficking, Oseguera Cervantes armed himself with a pistol. .
Enforcement actions and official statements
In addition, oseguera Cervantes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine destined to the United States, as well as using, carrying. Possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of two consecutive life sentences in prison. For complete details, refer to the official DOJ press release.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A.
Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Administrator Terrance C. Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement. The DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit Los Angeles is investigating the case. For related coverage, see 11 charged in homeland security task force investigation relating to aliens found dead in a boxcar earlier this year — DOJ.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance to Oseguera Cervantes’ February 2025 transfer from Mexico to the United States pursuant to Mexico’s National Security law. The Department of Justice thanks the Government of Mexico for its assistance in securing Oseguera Cervantes’ presence in the United States for prosecution. Chief Kaitlin Sahni of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit (NDDU) and Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian, Douglas Meisel.
Nicole Lockhart, of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels. Protect the U.S. financial system. For related coverage, see Most wanted COVID-19 fraud fugitive returned from jamaica to face charges in $32 million scheme — DOJ.
MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals. Financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations. Human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.
In particular, through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating. Prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.
