Meet El Mencho’s Children With Wife, Rosalinda Gonzalez, Are They Married Or Involved In Crime?

El Mencho (real name Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes) is the notorious d**g lord who was on America’s wanted list for a long time. On February 22, 2026, finally, a successful military operation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, took his life. The d**g kingpin was killed during a raid in Tapalpa, in the central-western state of Jalisco, which is a stronghold for CJNG. El Mencho’s death greatly angered the CJNG members, and they retaliated by setting vehicles and buses on fire to block roads in Puerto Vallarta and neighbouring states. Amid the buzz around El Mencho, here’s a look at his children and their current lives.

How many children does El Mencho have?

El Mencho has three children, whom he shares with his wife, Rosalinda González Valencia. Their only son, Rubén Oseguera González (better known as El Menchito) was once a very important figure of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). He was the second-in-command to his father, before he was extradited to the U.S. in 2020 and convicted in September 2024 for d**g trafficking and firearms offences. El Menchito was sentenced to life in prison in March 2025, which puts him out of the race to succeed El Mencho’s d**g cartel, CJNG.

El Mencho’s other two children, daughters Jessica Johanna Oseguera González (better known as La Negra) and Laisha Oseguera, are also not likely to lead his cartel empire after his untimely demise. La Negra, the eldest daughter, handled many of the cartel’s legitimate business fronts but was arrested in the U.S. in 2020. Though she was released in April 2022 after serving a shortened sentence, her criminal record and past incarceration may limit her ability to lead CJNG openly. As for Mencho’s youngest daughter, Laisha, she has maintained a lower profile, unlike her siblings, though authorities have linked her to cartel operations.

Some reports also mention that, besides Mencho’s biological children, he has a stepson, Juan Carlos Valencia González (better known as El Pelón, The Bald One, or El R3). Pelón has reportedly long been considered the second-in-command and natural heir to his stepfather’s empire. Just like Mencho, Pelón is also a wanted criminal, and currently, the U.S. State Department is offering a USD 5 million reward for his arrest. According to reports, Pelón is Rosalinda González Valencia’s son with her previous partner, Armando Valencia Cornelio.

Armando, known as El Maradona, is also involved in unlawful activity. He is also the founder of the now-defunct Milenio Cartel (also known as the Valencia Cartel), a Mexican criminal organisation that rose to prominence in the late 1990s. Notably, it is not known whether he is still alive or in touch with his son.

Are El Mencho’s children married?

El Mencho’s eldest daughter, La Negra, is married to Julio Alberto Rodríguez Castillo. He was arrested in 2015 alongside her brother, El Menchito, but was later released and subsequently re-arrested. El Mencho’s younger daughter, Laisha, is also reportedly romantically involved with a man named Christian Fernando Gutiérrez Ochoa; however, it is unclear whether they are married or in a dating relationship. A 2021 Mexico News Daily report indicated that Laisha and her partner were sought after two navy personnel were kidnapped from a shopping centre in Zapopan, Guadalajara. The authorities believed that the couple carried out the abduction as a retaliatory move after authorities arrested her mother, Rosalinda.

How did El Mencho die?

El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed on Sunday, February 22, 2026, during a high-profile military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco. He was severely wounded during a shootout with Mexican special forces. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported via air to Mexico City for medical attention. The raid was executed by Mexican military units with significant intelligence support from the United States. At least six alleged cartel members were killed alongside him, while three members of the Mexican military were wounded.

Aftermath of El Mencho’s death

The announcement of El Mencho’s death triggered widespread retaliatory violence across at least five Mexican states. CJNG cartel gunmen set fire to vehicles and buses to block major highways, particularly in Guadalajara and Zapopan. Major airlines including Air Canada, United Airlines, and Aeroméxico cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta due to the deteriorating security situation. As a result, the authorities in Jalisco suspended public transportation and advised residents to remain indoors

How did El Mencho become one of the world’s most-wanted fugitives?

El Mencho was a former police officer and avocado farmer who later chose the path of crime. He rose through the ranks of the Milenio Cartel before founding the CJNG. Under Mencho’s leadership, the CJNG became Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organisation, engaging in fuel theft, extortion, and human trafficking. At the time of his death, he faced multiple indictments in the U.S. for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The U.S. government had offered a USD 15 million reward for information leading to his capture.

What are your thoughts on El Mencho’s children having chosen the path of crime like him? Let us know.

Also Read: El Mencho Killed, Who Will Be CJNG’s Successor After D**g Cartel Leader’s Death In Puerto Vallarta?