Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo

Who is Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo?

Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, also known by his alias Don Neto, is a former Mexican narcotics trafficker, operating as leader of the Guadalajara Cartel alongside Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo and Rafael Caro Quintero. Fonseca had been involved with smuggling since the early 1970s, primarily in Ecuador, later moving his operations to Mexico.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration in 1982 indicted Fonseca in a money laundering operation in San Diego. Prior to the DEA receiving permission to wiretap the phones where Fonseca was believed to be hiding, Fonseca fled back to Mexico becoming a fugitive. On April 7, 1985, Fonseca and his security were located in Puerto Vallarta by the Mexican Army, his villa was surrounded and he eventually surrendered.

Fonseca was later linked to, and admitted taking part in the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique 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 would eventually be found guilty of the murder by the Mexico judicial system. He was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison.