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One of the founders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has pleaded guilty in US federal court to conspiring to traffic cocaine into the United States.
Getting into it: In an announcement, the DOJ confirmed that Erick Valencia Salazar, known as “El 85,” pleaded guilty in US federal court to conspiring to distribute cocaine for importation into the United States, admitting his role in a large-scale trafficking operation tied to moving significant quantities of drugs across borders. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, with sentencing set for July 31. While his plea could lead to some reduction under federal guidelines, the final outcome will be determined by a judge.
Authorities say Valencia Salazar was a central figure in the rise of the CJNG, serving as one of its founders and helping shape its early growth into a dominant and highly violent criminal organization. Prosecutors described his role as multifaceted, including recruiting members, directing operations against rival groups, and coordinating cocaine shipments into the United States. Before co-founding CJNG, he was part of the Milenio Cartel, where he allegedly coordinated arming members with high-powered weapons and participated in violent turf battles that helped lay the groundwork for CJNG’s emergence.
His transfer to US custody followed a long legal history in Mexico. He was first arrested in 2012 near Guadalajara, released in 2017 due to procedural issues, and captured again in 2022 in Jalisco. In February 2025, Mexican authorities handed him over to the United States as part of a high-profile extradition of 29 cartel-linked suspects.
In a statement, DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said, “Erick Valencia-Salazar helped build CJNG into a ruthless organization that uses violence as a business model — murdering for control in Mexico while flooding the United States with poison. CJNG is a designated terrorist organization. They do not just traffic deadly drugs — including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine — they spread violence, fear, and instability on both sides of the border. This guilty plea marks another step in holding its leadership accountable. DEA will continue to target the leaders, financiers, and enablers of these organizations until they are brought to justice and their networks are dismantled.”
