One of the children of the infamous Mexican drug lord ‘El Chapo’ has admitted to drug trafficking charges. Joaquín Guzmán López entered a guilty plea to US drug trafficking charges on Monday, as reported by the Associated Press.
This plea follows his brother’s previous agreement. Joaquín Guzmán López and his sibling Ovidio Guzmán López, known as the ‘little Chapos’ in Mexico, were implicated in overseeing a sector of the Sinaloa cartel. In a notable operation in 2023, federal authorities identified their involvement in a significant endeavor to transport substantial amounts of fentanyl into the US.
Aged 39, Joaquín confessed to two counts of drug trafficking and continuous criminal enterprise after acknowledging his role in supervising the transportation of tens of thousands of kilograms of drugs to the US, primarily utilizing clandestine tunnels. His legal counsel mentioned that he is set to evade a life sentence through the plea deal.
High security was observed at Chicago’s federal court before the hearing, during which prosecutors elaborated on the events leading to Guzmán López’s arrest alongside another prominent Sinaloa leader on US territory in July 2024.
Attired in an orange jumpsuit, Guzmán López remained mostly silent in court on Monday. However, when asked by District Judge Sharon Coleman about his occupation, he straightforwardly replied, “drug trafficking.”
Judge Coleman humorously remarked, “Oh, that’s your job. There you go.” Prosecutors outlined that if Guzmán López collaborates with the US government, his life sentence could be reduced, although he is still expected to serve a minimum of 10 years in prison according to Andrew Erskine, representing the federal government.
As part of the plea agreement, Guzmán López forfeits his right to appeal the sentence. His defense attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, expressed gratitude for the fairness of the Mexican government’s non-interference.
Guzmán López was apprehended in Texas in July 2024 with another longstanding Sinaloa leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, after their arrival in the US via a private plane. Both individuals had previously pleaded not guilty to various charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms.
Their arrest sparked heightened violence in Mexico’s Sinaloa state as factions within the Sinaloa cartel clashed. Guzmán López acknowledged in the plea deal his involvement in overseeing the production and smuggling of significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the US, contributing to a crisis resulting in tens of thousands of overdose fatalities annually.
Additionally, Guzmán López admitted to the alleged kidnapping of an unidentified individual believed to be Zambada. Erskine recounted the purported kidnapping in court, describing how Guzmán López arranged for the person to be seized during a meeting by removing glass from a floor-to-ceiling window, then transporting them by plane under sedation.
Erskine argued that the supposed kidnapping was an attempt at demonstrating cooperation with the US government, although such actions were not sanctioned. Consequently, Guzmán López would not receive cooperation credit for that incident.
Zambada’s attorney previously asserted that his client was forcefully taken onto the flight to the US by Guzmán López, and Lichtman indicated intentions to seek a reduced sentence.
Police dogs were present in the downtown courthouse lobby, inspecting bags and equipment. Earlier, Joaquín’s brother, Ovidio Guzmán López, became the first son of the drug lord to enter a plea deal, admitting to charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses tied to his leadership within the cartel. Legal experts viewed this development as a significant stride for the US government in its efforts to investigate and prosecute Sinaloa cartel leaders.
Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is presently serving a life sentence following his 2019 conviction for leading the Sinaloa cartel and orchestrating the smuggling of substantial quantities of cocaine and other drugs into the US over a 25-year span. The brothers are believed to have assumed leadership roles within the cartel, succeeding their father.
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