The Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that there are no active criminal investigations, arrest warrants, or ongoing state criminal proceedings against Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, alias “El Sapo”; Julio César Montero Pinzón, alias “El Tarjetas”; and Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela, alias “La Firma”, whom the United States government identifies as members of the leadership structure of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
During a press conference, Blanca Jacqueline Trujillo Cuevas, Deputy Prosecutor for Missing Persons, speaking on behalf of Jalisco Attorney General Salvador González de Los Santos, stated that after reviewing the various departments within the agency, “the arrest warrant division has no active warrants. I also checked with other areas of the State Prosecutor’s Office, and no one reported having an active case involving these individuals at this time. Currently, there are no criminal proceedings or arrest warrants against them.”
The official clarified that this does not prevent future state investigations from being initiated.
“Investigations are dynamic,” she said, adding that “these individuals are publicly known because most of the crimes they are allegedly involved in fall under federal jurisdiction. Therefore, any legal proceedings against them may be handled by the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR), since organized crime offenses are the responsibility of the federal government.”
However, she emphasized that this does not exempt the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office from taking action if the individuals are linked to crimes under state jurisdiction in the future.
When asked whether any of the three men are mentioned in the investigation into the assassination of former Jalisco Governor Jorge Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz, Trujillo Cuevas responded that she could neither confirm nor deny that information because she is not directly familiar with the case file. Nevertheless, she reiterated that, officially, there are currently no state arrest warrants or criminal proceedings against them.
CJNG’s New Leadership Structure
In contrast, the U.S. Department of the Treasury recently announced a new action targeting the financial and leadership structure of the CJNG, imposing sanctions on more than 50 individuals and companies linked to the criminal organization.
According to the organizational chart released by Washington, Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán (“El Sapo”) is identified as one of the cartel’s top commanders, reporting directly below Juan Carlos González, alias “Pelón,” whom U.S. authorities identify as the organization’s leader.
Julio César Montero Pinzón (“El Tarjetas”) and Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela (“La Firma”) are placed on the second tier of the organization’s command structure.
According to the Treasury Department’s statement, “Treasury Takes Largest Action Ever Targeting Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación,” all three individuals are considered part of the cartel’s current leadership.
The statement identifies “El Sapo” as one of the CJNG’s principal commanders, ranking alongside Audias Flores Silva, alias “Jardinero,” directly beneath “Pelón.” It also notes that he was redesignated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on June 18, 2025, together with “Jardinero” and Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez.
Regarding “El Tarjetas,” U.S. authorities identify him as a member of the CJNG leadership operating under “El Sapo” and “Jardinero.”
The Treasury statement notes that he was redesignated by OFAC on August 13, 2025, alongside Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela (“La Firma”) and Francisco Javier Gudiño Haro, alias “La Gallina.” It also recalls that previous U.S. actions accused Montero Pinzón of directing a timeshare fraud scheme allegedly used to finance CJNG operations.
In the case of “La Firma,” the Treasury Department likewise identifies him as a member of the cartel’s leadership. Like “El Tarjetas,” he was redesignated by OFAC in August 2025 and appears among the senior figures supporting “Pelón,” according to information released by the U.S. government.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury continues to maintain all three individuals under OFAC sanctions, identifying them as members of the CJNG leadership. The organization has been designated by the United States as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization.
These sanctions freeze any assets or financial interests they may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. citizens and companies from conducting transactions with them.
Source: proceso
