Ten men 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, were sentenced to over 140 years in prison each.
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. Five other suspects detained in the case are still awaiting trials, including three police officers and Jose Murguia Santiago, the mayor of Teuchtitlan, the municipality where the ranch is located.
The proceedings included more than 40 witness testimonies and extensive material evidence linking the defendants to the crimes committed at the ranch.
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.
Murguía Santiago, on his end, 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."
One witness who testified against Murguía revealed that the former official supplied patrol vehicles, firearms and municipal police officers to support the criminal organization. In exchange he allegedly received monthly payments of approximately $3,500, delivered in cash at remote locations.
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.
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