Drug Queenpin’s Occult Murders Expose Border Horror

A 23-year-old female drug queenpin, known as “La Chely,” has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for murdering at least five victims and offering their hearts to the Mexican death god, Santa Muerte. Her case exposes the horrific reality of escalating cartel violence and occult practices spilling across America’s southern border from Ciudad Juárez, and highlights the disturbing trend of rising female leadership in Mexico’s drug cartels.

Story Highlights

La Chely, a 23-year-old gang leader, received 50 years for ritualistic murders in Ciudad Juárez
She offered victims’ hearts to Santa Muerte as part of occult cartel practices
The case highlights rising female leadership in Mexico’s drug cartels
Ciudad Juárez remains a key smuggling corridor threatening U.S. border security

Young Female Gang Leader’s Reign of Terror

Known as “La Chely,” the 23-year-old gang leader orchestrated a campaign of ritualistic violence in Ciudad Juárez that shocked even seasoned law enforcement officials. Mexican authorities linked her to at least five homicides, but her crimes extended beyond typical cartel killings. She reportedly removed victims’ hearts and offered them to Santa Muerte, the Mexican “death saint” worshipped by many criminals seeking protection and power in their violent enterprises.

Michelle Angelica Pineda, known as "La Chely," has been sentenced to 50 years in a Mexican prison for her role in the murder of Jorge Rentería Rodríguez, a 23-year-old Mexican national. https://t.co/SG9IfHGqxc pic.twitter.com/3vbpzaZX5m

— KFOX14 News (@KFOX14) December 30, 2025

Border City Violence Threatens American Security

Ciudad Juárez sits directly across the border from El Paso, Texas, serving as a critical smuggling corridor for drugs, weapons, and human trafficking into the United States. The city has endured decades of cartel warfare between the Sinaloa and Juárez cartels, resulting in thousands of deaths since the Mexican Drug War escalated in the late 2000s. This ongoing violence demonstrates the continued failure of Mexican authorities to secure their side of the border, directly threatening American communities.

La Chely’s case represents a disturbing trend of younger, increasingly violent cartel leaders who use extreme violence and occult practices to intimidate rivals and maintain control. Her gang’s ritualistic murders, reportedly involving heart removal, show how cartel violence has evolved beyond simple territorial disputes into psychological warfare designed to terrorize entire communities through fear and superstition.

Pattern of Female Cartel Leadership Emerges

La Chely’s case mirrors other recent incidents involving female cartel leaders in Juárez, including former beauty queen Vanessa Gurrola, who was charged in 2023 with ambushing and killing a rival by shooting his BMW. These cases highlight a concerning pattern where women are taking increasingly prominent roles in Mexico’s drug cartels, often proving just as ruthless as their male counterparts in pursuing territorial control and drug trafficking profits.

The rise of female cartel leaders challenges traditional assumptions about organized crime hierarchies while demonstrating that Mexico’s drug war continues producing new generations of violent criminals.

Implications for American Border Security

President Sheinbaum’s recent anti-extortion campaigns represent Mexican efforts to address cartel violence, but La Chely’s case exposes the persistent weakness of Mexican law enforcement against organized crime. The 50-year sentence may temporarily remove one threat, but power vacuums in cartel territories often lead to increased violence as rivals compete for control, potentially driving more criminal activity toward the U.S. border.

The ritualistic nature of La Chely’s crimes, involving Santa Muerte worship and heart offerings, reflects the deep cultural and spiritual elements that bind cartel members together, making these organizations particularly difficult to dismantle.

Watch the report: ‘La Chely’ sentenced to 50 years in Mexican prison – YouTube