The United States government has announced a reward of up to $25 million for information leading to the capture of Juan Carlos Valencia González, widely known by the alias 'Pelón.' Valencia is the current leader of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), one of the most violent and dangerous narco-terrorist organizations operating in the Western Hemisphere. He assumed leadership of the cartel in February 2026 following the death of his stepfather, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as 'El Mencho,' who founded the organization. Valencia, born in Santa Ana, California, in 1984, is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico. He is also known by several other aliases, including 'El R-3,' 'El JP,' 'Tricky Tres,' and 'O3.' Physically, he is described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The CJNG was recently designated a foreign terrorist organization by the administration of President Donald Trump. According to government officials, the cartel is responsible for poisoning American communities with illicit drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, and is linked to the murders of hundreds of thousands of people, including American citizens. Valencia was originally charged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on October 8, 2020, with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance for the purpose of unlawful importation into the United States and use of a firearm during a narcotics transaction. The increased reward is being offered through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the Narcotics Rewards Program. Individuals with information regarding Valencia's location or activities are urged to contact the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Tips can be submitted by phone at 1-213-237-9990, which accepts texts, WhatsApp, Signal, and Threema, or by email at CJNGtips@dea.gov. Those located outside the United States should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. All identities of informants are kept strictly confidential.