A son of the well-known Mexican drug lord “El Chapo” has admitted guilt on U.S. drug trafficking charges after his sibling struck a plea agreement earlier. Familiarly referred to in Mexico as the “Chapitos,” Joaquín Guzmán López and his brother, Ovidio Guzmán López, are accused of managing a segment of the Sinaloa cartel. In 2023, federal authorities characterized their operation as a substantial endeavor to funnel significant amounts of fentanyl into the U.S.
Joaquín Guzmán López, aged 39, confessed to two drug trafficking charges and ongoing criminal enterprise, acknowledging his involvement in supervising the transportation of numerous kilograms of drugs to the U.S., primarily through clandestine tunnels. By accepting the plea deal, he is set to evade a life sentence.
Stringent security measures were in place at Chicago’s federal court prior to the hearing, during which prosecutors recounted the events leading to Guzmán López’s dramatic apprehension alongside another prominent Sinaloa figure on U.S. territory in July 2024.
Guzmán López, attired in an orange jumpsuit and matching footwear, was reserved in court. At the commencement of the hearing, U.S. District Judge Sharon Coleman inquired about his occupation.
“Drug trafficking,” he responded.
“Oh, that’s your line of work,” Coleman remarked with a chuckle. “There you have it.”
If Guzmán López cooperates with U.S. authorities, they have pledged to reduce the life sentence associated with the charges. Nevertheless, he is staring at a minimum of 10 years behind bars, as stated by Andrew Erskine, a representative for the federal government.
Per the terms of the plea agreement, Guzmán López will not be entitled to appeal the sentence.
His defense counsel, Jeffrey Lichtman, lauded the efforts of both U.S. and Mexican law enforcement.
“The treatment Joaquin has received from the authorities has been equitable,” he conveyed to journalists following the court session. “I am appreciative that the Mexican government did not intervene.”
In July 2024, Guzmán López and another senior Sinaloa figure, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, were apprehended in Texas after arriving in the U.S. on a private aircraft. Both individuals had previously pleaded not guilty to various charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses. Their dramatic capture triggered a surge in violence in the northern state of Sinaloa as rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel clashed.
As part of his confession, Joaquín Guzmán López acknowledged his involvement in overseeing the manufacturing and smuggling of substantial quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the United States, exacerbating a crisis that contributes to tens of thousands of overdose fatalities annually.
Admits to Abduction
Guzmán López also confessed to abducting an undisclosed individual presumed to be Zambada. Erskine detailed the purported abduction in court, revealing that Guzmán López had the glass from a full-length window removed.
During a meeting in the room with the unidentified person, Guzmán López reportedly arranged for others to enter through the open window, seize the individual, cover his head with a bag, and transport him to an airplane. On the flight, the individual was restrained with zip ties and administered sedatives before landing at an airport in New Mexico near the Texas border.
Erskine clarified that the alleged abduction was an effort to demonstrate cooperation with the U.S. government, which did not authorize it. He emphasized that Guzmán López would not be credited for cooperation based on this incident.
Zamb