A Mexican court has sentenced 10 men to 141 years and 3 months in prison each for their roles in a horrific case tied to organized crime. These men were found guilty of working at a secret ranch in Jalisco, where a dangerous criminal group operated in silence for years.
The ranch, known as Rancho Izaguirre, was used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) to recruit members, train them, and carry out violent acts — including murder and the disappearance of victims. According to authorities, the ranch had been in use since 2021, but its existence only came to light after a major raid in September 2024 led by the National Guard.
During that operation, officials found one body and arrested two suspects on the spot. In the weeks that followed, eight more men were arrested. On Monday, all ten were convicted for their involvement in the murder and disappearance of three victims. By Tuesday, each was handed the long sentence and ordered to pay 1.3 million pesos (around $65,000 USD) in damages to the victims’ families.
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Warnings Ignored, Mayor Arrested
What makes this case even more troubling is how long local leaders ignored warnings. According to Mexico’s Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero, the Jalisco state Human Rights Commission had warned authorities in Teuchitlan — the town where the ranch is located — about cartel activity at Rancho Izaguirre since 2021. But nothing was done.
This failure to act led to more than just public outrage. Among five other suspects still awaiting trial are three local police officers, a CJNG recruiter, and even the town’s mayor, José Murguía Santiago. Murguía was arrested shortly after the investigation revealed that Teuchitlan officials ignored repeated human rights alerts.
The case has put a spotlight on how deeply criminal groups have infiltrated small towns and how often local officials turn a blind eye. The delay in action forced the federal Attorney General’s Office to take over the case after months of inaction by Jalisco’s state prosecutors.
Gruesome Evidence Sparks National Outcry
Public attention exploded in March 2025, when the search group Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco visited the ranch and made a horrifying discovery. They found numerous charred human bones, along with hundreds of clothing items and shoes, believed to belong to victims who had vanished.
Despite these findings, some officials downplayed the site’s purpose. In April, Attorney General Gertz Manero denied claims that the site was used for cremations. This caused an immediate backlash. Guerreros Buscadores responded, stating they had recovered 17 sets of charred human remains, which are now in the hands of forensic investigators.
The chilling discovery added to Mexico’s growing crisis of over 130,000 missing people. Families across the country, still searching for loved ones, expressed both sadness and anger at how long it took for real action to be taken in this case.
The 10 men are now behind bars, but the damage caused by years of silence and inaction will not be easily erased. The investigation into the remaining suspects continues, as Mexico grapples with the deep scars left behind by organized crime and government neglect.