10 Men Found Guilty of Kidnapping, Homicide Tied To Jalisco Cartel's 'Extermination Camp'

Ten men were found guilty of their involvement in crimes committed at the Izaguirre Ranch, a property in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, allegedly used by the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) as a confinement, training and extermination center in Mexico.

The Jalisco Attorney General's Office announced that the men, originally arrested in September 2024, were convicted of homicide and enforced disappearance following a weeklong trial.

According to Infobae México, the proceedings included more than 40 witness testimonies and extensive material evidence linking the defendants to the crimes committed at the ranch.

The convicted individuals were identified as Kevin "N," David "N," Gustavo "N," Christopher "N," Juan Manuel "N," Óscar Iván "N," Erick "N," Luis Alberto "N," Ricardo Augusto "N" and Armando "N." They are expected to be sentenced Tuesday, nearly nine months after their arrests.

Although the site gained international attention in March 2025 when volunteer search groups discovered what appeared to be cremated human remains, authorities first learned of the facility in September 2024. At that time, members of the National Guard responded to an anonymous tip, rescued two kidnapped individuals and discovered one body at the scene.

One of the key pieces of evidence in the case was the testimony of a surviving victim who identified one of the defendants as a participant in the crimes. That account, along with forensic evidence, helped prosecutors support charges that could result in prison sentences of more than 40 years. Prosecutors argued that all 10 men directly and jointly participated in the crimes.

What happened at the Izaguirre Ranch?

In March, volunteer group Colectivo Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco reported finding burned human remains buried on the ranch along with hundreds of items of clothing. They claimed the site had been used by the CJNG both to train new recruits and dispose of victims' bodies.

Volunteer groups have continued searching the property, though federal authorities have disputed their findings.

In April, Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero said a federal investigation had found no definitive proof that human remains were cremated at the site.

"No bodies or bones—whether complete or partial skeletons—were found at the property," Gertz Manero said. "What was found were trenches and some holes that had been used for bonfires."

Before this week's ruling, few individuals had been formally charged in connection with the crimes at Izaguirre Ranch since its discovery.

One of them was former Teuchitlán Mayor José Ascensión Murguía Santiago, who was arrested in May. He is accused of working directly with CJNG leaders in operations involving kidnappings and the disposal of human remains. Prosecutors allege he maintained close contact with cartel members, including José Gregorio "El Comandante" Lastra and Gonzalo Mendoza Gaitán, also known as "El Sapo."

Lastra, who was arrested in March, was identified by authorities as the leader of a CJNG cell responsible for recruiting and training new members at the ranch. According to Mexico's Secretary of Security and Civilian Protection, Omar García Harfuch, Lastra lured recruits through fake job postings on social media, offering security positions with salaries ranging from $200 to $600 a week.

Once applicants expressed interest, members of the cartel reportedly picked them up at nearby bus terminals and transported them to the Izaguirre Ranch. In testimony following his arrest, Lastra admitted that the cartel executed individuals who resisted training or attempted to escape.