The son of the infamous Mexican drug lord “El Chapo” has admitted guilt to drug trafficking charges in the United States, following his brother’s earlier plea agreement. Referred to locally in Mexico as the “Chapitos,” Joaquín Guzmán López and his sibling, Ovidio Guzmán López, are implicated in managing a faction of the Sinaloa cartel. U.S. federal authorities in 2023 characterized their operation as a substantial endeavor aimed at smuggling large amounts of fentanyl into the U.S.
Aged 39, Joaquín Guzmán López confessed to two counts of drug trafficking and running a criminal enterprise, acknowledging his involvement in overseeing the transportation of numerous kilograms of drugs to the U.S., primarily through underground tunnels. By accepting the plea deal, he will evade a life sentence.
Security was stringent at the federal court in Chicago before the hearing, during which prosecutors outlined the events leading to Guzmán López’s dramatic apprehension alongside another prominent Sinaloa figure on U.S. territory in July 2024.
Guzmán López, garbed in an orange jumpsuit and matching footwear, spoke sparingly in court. When asked by U.S. District Judge Sharon Coleman about his occupation, he replied, “Drug trafficking.” Coleman chuckled and remarked, “Oh, that’s your job. There you go.”
If Guzmán López cooperates with U.S. authorities, prosecutors pledged to lessen the sentence tied to the charges. Nevertheless, he is looking at a minimum of 10 years in prison, as stated by Andrew Erskine, a representative for the federal government.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Guzmán López forfeits the right to appeal his sentence. His defense lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, praised the fairness of both U.S. and Mexican officials.
“The government has treated Joaquin fairly thus far,” Lichtman informed the press following the court session. “I am grateful that the Mexican government did not intervene.”
Both Guzmán López and another long-standing Sinaloa figure, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, were arrested in Texas in July 2024 after arriving in the U.S. via a private aircraft. Both men had previously pleaded not guilty to various charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses. Their high-profile capture sparked a surge in violence in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa as rival factions within the Sinaloa cartel clashed.
As part of the plea agreement, Joaquín Guzmán López confessed to aiding in the production and smuggling of substantial quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the U.S., exacerbating a crisis that has led to tens of thousands of overdose fatalities annually.
Confession of Kidnapping
Guzmán López also admitted to the kidnapping of an unidentified individual believed to be Zambada. Erskine recounted the purported kidnapping in court, alleging that Guzmán López had the glass removed from a floor-to-ceiling window.
During a meeting in that room with the unidentified person, Guzmán López allegedly had accomplices enter through the open window, seize the individual, cover his head with a bag, and transport him by plane. On the flight, the person was restrained with zip ties and administered sedatives before landing at a New Mexico airport near the Texas border.
Erskine clarified that the alleged kidnapping was an effort to exhibit cooperation with the U.S. government, which did not authorize it. He confirmed that Guzmán López would not receive cooperation credit for that incident.
Zambada’s legal counsel had previously contended that his client was forcibly taken by Guzmán López onto the flight to the U.S.
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