The US Department of Justice seeks to seize a ranch in California owned by Juan Carlos Valencia González, the new leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
The US Department of Justice initiated a legal process in late July to seize a ranch in Hemet, California, owned by Juan Carlos Valencia González. The property, which Valencia González purchased in 2011 for $250,000, is now linked to his role as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes. Currently managed by his maternal uncle, José María González Valencia, the ranch has seen its value increase to approximately $695,000. The administration's move follows sanctions from the Department of Treasury, which froze the cartel leader's US assets and prohibited American businesses from conducting transactions with him. Valencia González, also known as "El Pelón," previously led the cartel's Elite Group. He now faces a $25 million reward for his capture, making him a top priority for the Drug Enforcement Administration. The ranch remains a rural property with a small house and various livestock, currently being vacated by a tenant who paid monthly rent in cash.