“Anonymous” for Borderland Beat
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| Jesús González Peñuelas (alias “Chuy González”) is an independent drug kingpin based in Sinaloa and Sonora that has strategic alliances other drug cartels. He is currently at large. |
The Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas (AKA “Chuy Gonzalez”), an independent drug kingpin based in Sinaloa and Sonora that has strategic alliances other drug cartels.
Chuy Gonzalez heads an independent organization involved in the distribution and production of methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. The group is also suspected of trafficking and selling cocaine and M-30s, which are fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. International narcotics charges have been filed against Chuy Gonzalez in the District of Colorado and the Southern District of California.
Since 2007, Chuy Gonzalez operates primarily in the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Sonora, in various ports of entry along the US-Mexico border, and with distribution cells in California, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Utah, and Nevada. He also oversees several Sinaloa heroin processing laboratories and is responsible for transporting and selling cocaine and M-30s fentanyl pills.
Chuy Gonzalez reportedly cooperates with various criminal groups in Mexico, acting as an “enforcement arm” for various of these cartels’ in their drug trafficking routes. Authorities say he is linked to Fausto Isidro Meza Flores (alias “Chapo Isidro”) and Rafael Caro Quintero. According to the DEA, Chuy Gonzalez was born in 1969 and is last known address was in Gabriel Leyva Solano, Sinaloa.
In September 2014, Chuy Gonzalez was rumored dead after five people were killed in a plane crash in Sinaloa, as reported by Borderland Beat. This information was later proven false.
On May 2021, federal authorities in San Diego accused Chuy Gonzalez of international drug trafficking as an independent or freelance drug leader. US authorities said his criminal group was one of the largest raw opium gum and heroin sources of supply in northern Mexico. They also claim he is a major distributor of fentanyl.