CDN Leader "El Huevo" Juan Treviño-Chavez Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Charges in US

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Juan Gerardo Treviño-Chavez also known as "El Huevo" pleaded guilty in a federal court in San Antonio, Texas today to 15 counts related to his involvement in drug trafficking throughout Mexico and the United States as a former leader of the Cartel del Noreste under his uncles Omar and Miguel Treviño-Morales.

US Born Cartel Leader

Juan Trevino-Chavez, 42, was identified as the leader of the Cartel del Noreste drug cartel (CDN), the successor cartel to Los Zetas Cartel.

Trevino-Chavez was identified by the US government as the head of CDN from September 2016 until his arrest in March 2022. It is alleged that DEA undercover assets began tracking Juan from a family party in late 2021 after an international flight by a cousin of his.

Unlike his relatives and many other Mexican cartel figures; Juan is a US born citizen. This fact allowed for his quick extradition to the United States as the US holds jurisdiction for prosecuting any of its citizens.

False Mexican Birth Certificate

In a failed attempt to stall the immediate deportation, his father "Kiko Ozuna," one of the Treviño-Morales brothers, threatened government workers while presenting a false Mexican birth certificate for his son, the attempt had failed. In fact, Juan was born in 1982 in Laredo, Texas, not Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico where he was arrested.

Two Texas Federal Indictments

Today, he pleaded guilty Tuesday to all 11 counts in an indictment filed in the Western District of Texas, including charges of conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine as well as firearms charges, money laundering and conspiracy to employ a person under 18 to commit a crime.

Trevino-Chavez additionally pleaded guilty to the four counts charged in an indictment filed in the Eastern District of Texas. In that district, he was also charged with cocaine trafficking conspiracy, smuggling, conspiracy to launder money and the biggest charge, heading a CCE or Continuing Criminal Enterprise. The narco's version of RICO.

Trevino-Chavez is scheduled to be sentenced in May 2025 and faces up to life in prison.

Sources DOJ

Categories: CDN, el huevo, los zetas