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Date: 03-16-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 1:20-cr-00040-BAH
Judge: Beryl A. Howell
Court: United States District Court for the Central District of California (Los Angeles County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Washington, DC - Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act violation charge criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, 34, of Guadalajara, Mexico, who was charged with violating the criminal penalties of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (the Kingpin Act) by engaging in property transactions with six Mexican businesses that OFAC previously designated to be “specially designated narcotics traffickers.” These six businesses were so designated because they provided material support to the Mexican drug trafficking organization known as the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), which was itself designated by OFAC in April 2015. Oseguera Gonzalez’s father, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, aka “El Mencho,” who is the leader of CJNG, and her uncle, Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, who is the leader of the Los Cuinis drug trafficking organization, were also sanctioned by OFAC in April 2015.
“The Kingpin Act is a critically important tool in the U.S. government’s unrelenting efforts to target foreign drug cartels that seek to flood American streets with illegal drugs,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice will aggressively investigate and criminally prosecute those who willfully violate Treasury Department sanctions under the Kingpin Act, as a key component of our broader whole-of-government strategy to dismantle and disrupt foreign drug cartels.”
“Today’s guilty plea is a result of our relentless commitment to disrupt and dismantle all aspects of the CJNG organization,” said Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division. “Our efforts will continue to include a focus on those who facilitate these illicit drug networks. Together with the Department of Justice, we will use all the investigative tools available, including OFAC designations, to bring to justice those who engage in illegal activity that is fueling the drug crisis nationwide.”
Court documents indicate that Oseguera Gonzalez was an owner of two Mexican companies designated by OFAC, J&P Advertising S.A. de C.V., and JJGON S.P.R. de R.L. de C.V., and that she was an officer, director, or agent of four additional sanctioned businesses, Las Flores Cabanas, Mizu Sushi Lounge, Tequila Onze Black, and Operadora Los Famosos S.A. de C.V., doing business as Kenzo Sushi. She remained an owner, officer, director, or agent of those entities following their OFAC designations, and did not seek the required license from OFAC to engage in those financial transactions.
Oseguera Gonzalez pleaded guilty to willfully violating the Kingpin Act’s prohibitions on engaging in transactions or dealings in property with entities or persons sanctioned under the Kingpin Act, and to being an officer, director, or agent of entities who knowingly participated in Kingpin Act violations.
The DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division is investigating the case, and the Justice Department particularly thanks the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury for its support. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided investigative assistance.
Trial Attorneys Brett Reynolds, Kaitlin Sahni, and Kate Naseef of the Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.
This case received significant support from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program supports investigations around the country to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
Outcome: 03/12/2021 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell: Plea Agreement Hearing as to JESSICA JOHANNA OSEGUERA GONZALEZ held via videoconference on 3/12/2021. The Defendant agreed to participate via videoconference under the CARES Act and after consultation with counsel. Defendant sworn; plea of guilty to Counts 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s of the Superseding Indictment filed on 7/16/2020, entered by JESSICA JOHANNA OSEGUERA GONZALEZ. Case referred to the Probation Office for Presentence Investigation. Sentencing scheduled for 6/11/2021, at 9:30 AM before Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. 211 Joint Motion to Vacate Trial, Granted. Bond Status of Defendant: Defendant committed. Present via video conference: Defense Attorneys: Steven J. McCool, Julia M. Coleman, and Yasmin P. Ortiz; US Attorneys: Kate M. Naseef, Brett C. Reynolds, and Kaitlin J. Sahni; Interpreters: Teresa Salazar and Teresa Roman (sworn). Court Reporter: Elizabeth Saint-Loth. (ztg) Modified on 3/12/2021 (ztg). (Entered: 03/12/2021)
03/12/2021 213 PLEA AGREEMENT as to JESSICA JOHANNA OSEGUERA GONZALEZ. (ztg) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
03/12/2021 214 AGREED FACTUAL PROFFER in Support of Guilty Plea by USA as to JESSICA JOHANNA OSEGUERA GONZALEZ. (ztg) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
03/12/2021 215 WAIVER of Trial by Jury as to JESSICA JOHANNA OSEGUERA GONZALEZ. Approved by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on 3/12/2021. (ztg) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
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