Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1930-08-01)August 1, 1930 (age 95) |
| Other names | Don Neto |
| Occupation | Drug lord of theGuadalajara Cartel |
| Known for | Illegal drug trade |
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Partner(s) | Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo,Rafael Caro Quintero,Amado Carrillo Fuentes |
| Notes | |
Arrested on April 7, 1985. Released on April 10, 2025. | |
Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo (August 1, 1930), commonly referred to by his aliasDon Neto, is a Mexican drug lord and former leader of theGuadalajara Cartel, a defunct criminal group based inJalisco. He headed the organization alongsideMiguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, andRafael Caro Quintero. Fonseca Carrillo was involved with drug trafficking since the early 1970s, primarily inEcuador, and later moved his operations toMexico.[1]
Fonseca is the uncle of formerJuárez Cartel leader,Amado Carrillo Fuentes.[2]
Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo was born inBadiraguato,Sinaloa.[3] Sources disagree on his exact date of birth. According to theDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA), he was born in 1942.[4] Other sources say he was born on August 1, 1930.[5] His son, Gilberto Fonseca Caro was shot and killed on February 13, 1983, outside the Arena Coliseo in Tijuana following a boxing match.
Fonseca and other narcotics traffickers created and operatedEl Búfalo (The Buffalo), a ranch in Chihuahua which is one of the largest marijuana plantations in history by square footage.[6]
The United StatesDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1982 indicted Fonseca in amoney laundering operation inSan Diego. Prior to the DEA receiving permission towiretap the phones where Fonseca was thought to be hiding, Fonseca fled back to Mexico. On April 7, 1985, Fonseca was located inPuerto Vallarta by theMexican Army, his villa was surrounded, and he surrendered.[1]
Fonseca was later linked to, and admitted taking part in, events surrounding the 1985 murder of DEA agentKiki Camarena, who was kidnapped and tortured by the Guadalajara cartel. Fonseca did not admit to killing Camarena and stated he was outraged that the agent was beaten. Fonseca was found guilty of the murder by the Mexican judicial system, and was convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison.[1]
Fonseca was transferred from prison tohouse arrest in July 2016, because of his old age and declining health,[7] with about nine years remaining on his 40-year sentence.[8]
Fonseca-Carrillo is portrayed inNarcos: Mexico byJoaquín Cosío.