A prolific Mexican cartel leader allegedly faked his own death to live 'life of luxury' in California

A Mexican cartel leader, who peddled thousands of kilograms of illegal drugs to the U.S., was killed by a business associate for "lying" — or at least that's what the public was told.

According to prosecutors, Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, a 37-year-old high-ranking official in the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, faked his own death to avoid Mexican authorities and lived a "life of luxury" in California.

He was arrested on Tuesday in Riverside.

Gutierrez-Ochoa and the son-in-law of the CJNG’s leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho," are now facing international drug trafficking and money laundering charges in federal court.

Court documents state that Gutierrez-Ochoa began working for CJNG, which prosecutors called one of the most violent of Mexico's cartels, in 2014. Starting then, he "coordinated the transportation and distribution" of about 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine in Mexico.

All of those illegal drugs were destined for the U.S., prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say that Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly used violence to further his drug trafficking.

In November 2021, he allegedly kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy after the wife of El Mencho was arrested by authorities. He was sought out by authorities and eventually fled to California and purchased a luxury home in Riverside under a fake name.

The funds used to purchase that Riverside house were proceeds from CJNG’s drug trafficking operations, prosecutors say.

Court documents say El Mencho may have helped Gutierrez-Ochoa in his scheme by helping him fake his own death. El Mencho allegedly told associates he killed Gutierrez-Ochoa for "lying."

Gutierrez-Ochoa fled to the U.S. to be with El Mencho's daughter, prosecutors say.

As of Thursday, El Mencho remains at-large as a fugitive and faces several high-level charges from U.S. prosecutors. The U.S. Department of State is offering up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.

Prosecutors say Gutierrez-Ochoa is being charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, knowing, intending, and having reasonable cause to believe that those controlled substances would be unlawfully imported into the United States, as well as conspiracy to launder CJNG’s drug trafficking proceeds.

If convicted, he can face life in prison.