In a modest strip mall in Perris, California, a small café has drawn unexpected attention due to its owner’s famous surname. El Rincón La Chulis, known locally for its specialty drinks and “friendly” atmosphere, is operated by 24-year-old Laisha Oseguera González — the youngest daughter of Nemesio “El Mencho” Cervantes, the late leader of Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the New York Post reports.
Regular customers describe González as cordial and professional. “It’s a normal place, and she’s really nice. A normal, respectful person and she runs a good business, but she never mentions her family or her husband,” one patron told The Post, adding, “I’d seen rumors online, but something like the cartel would never cross people’s minds. It’s a normal coffee shop.”
That perception changed after news broke of her father’s death during a Mexican military operation on February 22.
According to The Post, “Mexican media claimed Gonzalez attended the funeral of her Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader father, posting a picture which they said showed her attending with dyed blonde hair and dark sunglasses. El Mencho was buried in a gold coffin in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Tuesday.”
Her quiet life in California stands in sharp contrast to her father’s legacy of narcotics trafficking and violence. The café itself appears to operate entirely legitimately. Known for its Mexican Mocha, Iced Horchata Latte, and Strawberry Matcha drinks, El Rincón La Chulis maintains positive reviews online, according to The Post. Decorations inside include Spanish signs with phrases such as, “Love can wait, but food cannot.” Despite her public image as a small business owner, González has occasionally drawn local scrutiny: one 2018 review alleged she threw a drink at a customer following a dispute, though no official complaint was filed.
González’s family history remains deeply entwined with CJNG operations. She is married to Cristian Gutierrez-Ochoa, also known as “El Gaucho,” a reputed high-ranking cartel member, according to the outlet. Authorities accuse Gutierrez-Ochoa of kidnapping two Mexican Navy personnel in 2021 in retaliation for the arrest of Rosalinda González Valencia — El Mencho’s estranged wife and Laisha’s mother. Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly faked his death and used a tunnel from Tijuana to enter the United States, where he lived under the alias Luis Miguel Martínez. Prosecutors say he purchased a $1.2 million home in Riverside, California, using cash. In 2024, he was arrested and later convicted on charges of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine into the U.S. and laundering cartel funds. He is currently serving an 11-year federal sentence.
Another family member, Laisha’s sister Jessica Johana Oseguera González — nicknamed “La Negra” — was prosecuted in the United States for laundering drug profits through restaurants, bars, and a tequila brand in Mexico. A dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, she pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering and was released in 2022 after serving just over two years of a 30-month sentence. Her estranged husband, Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez, is believed to be among those positioned to assume leadership within CJNG following El Mencho’s death.