José de Jesús Méndez Vargas
José de Jesús Méndez Vargas | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 28, 1961 El Aguaje, Michoacán, Mexico |
| Other names | El Chango |
| Occupation | Leader of La Familia Michoacana |
| Criminal status | Extradited to the United States |
| Criminal charge | Drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, murder |
José de Jesús Méndez Vargas (born 28 February 1974), commonly referred to by his alias El Chango ("The Ape"), is a Mexican drug lord and former leader of the now disbanded La Familia drug cartel, headquartered in the state of Michoacán.
Méndez took control of the cartel after its former leader, Nazario Moreno, was allegedly killed in a shootout with Mexican Federal Police on December 9, 2010. His protection was the responsibility of twelve gunmen he called the "Twelve Apostles". His leadership, however, was disputed by Servando Gómez Martínez and Enrique Plancarte Solís who left the organization and formed the Knights Templar. He be arrested on June 21, 2011. He was eventually extradited to the United States on February 27, 2025.