The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California announced this week that Claudia Patricia Álvarez Hernández, the wife of incarcerated Sinaloa Cartel kingpin Jorge Alberto Valenzuela Valenzuela, had been sentenced in federal court to 14 years in prison for her role in a major drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy involving millions of dollars.
According to prosecutors, Álvarez Hernández's sentence is part of ongoing investigations into Los Valenzuela, a criminal organization linked to the Sinaloa Cartel that was accused of importing cocaine and other controlled substances into the United States.
During the multi-year investigation, which began in 2020 following Jorge Alberto Valenzuela's arrest, authorities determined that Álvarez Hernández played a key role in her husband's criminal enterprise, which in return gave her access to luxury travel, jewelry, properties, and other high-end goods.
Prosecutors said she and other family members were deeply involved in Los Valenzuela's operations following Jorge Alberto's arrest, overseeing its remaining members and safeguarding its illicit assets in both Mexico and the United States.
U.S. District Judge Andrew G. Schopler also ordered her to forfeit more than $5 million in luxury watches, jewelry, vehicles, and bulk cash seized during the case.
"For years Álvarez Hernández lived in comfort while turning a blind eye to the violence, addiction, and devastation her husband's cartel inflicted on our communities," DEA Special Agent in Charge James Nunnallee said in a statement. "Today's 14-year sentence makes clear that those who profit from drug trafficking will be held accountable, whether they are on the front lines or living in luxury.
As part of the federal investigation, 109 individuals connected to Los Valenzuela have been charged. Authorities have seized approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl, as well as more than $16 million in cash.
Jorge Alberto Valenzuela has been in U.S. custody since 2020. He has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges and is awaiting sentencing.
"Cartel WAGs are in for a rude awakening," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said. "There is a lie behind their luxury: that they didn't know. This sentence reflects the reality."
Who are Los Valenzuela?
Los Valenzuela was once part of the Sinaloa Cartel's broader drug trafficking network and is now affiliated with La Mayiza, a faction loyal to Ismael Zambada Sicairos, son of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.
The group's relationship with Los Chapitos, rivals of La Mayiza in Sinaloa's ongoing cartel war, ended years before the current conflict.
According to Infobae México, back in 2020, Jorge Alberto Valenzuela had disagreements with Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, one of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's sons and a current leader of Los Chapitos.
Internal disputes led to the murder of Gabriel Valenzuela Valenzuela, one of Jorge Alberto's brothers and a Los Valenzuela leader.
Following his murder, the Valenzuela family procured firearms, ammunition, tactical gear, armored vehicles, and ballistic vests, many of which were sourced in the U.S. and smuggled into Mexico through illicit arms trafficking networks.
U.S. authorities say Los Valenzuela was once among the largest importers of cocaine and other controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, into the United States. The group relied on commercial trucking companies to smuggle narcotics across the border, distributing drugs throughout the U.S.
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