Additional Coverage:
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of infamous Sinaloa cartel leader “El Chapo,” is expected to plead guilty to drug trafficking charges, according to recently filed court documents. This marks a significant development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the cartel.
Guzman Lopez, along with his brother Joaquin, allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa cartel known as “Los Chapitos,” responsible for trafficking fentanyl into the United States. The 2023 indictment against them paints a gruesome picture, alleging the brothers and their associates tortured rivals using methods such as corkscrews, electrocution, and hot chiles. Some victims were reportedly even “fed dead or alive to tigers.”
Following his 2023 arrest in Mexico and subsequent extradition, Guzman Lopez was charged in a Chicago federal court with money laundering, drug, and firearm offenses. While he initially pleaded not guilty, rumors of a plea deal surfaced in May.
Court records now show a scheduled change of plea hearing set for July 9th, seemingly confirming the earlier speculation. This would make him the first of the brothers to strike a deal with prosecutors.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez, also in U.S. custody following his July arrest in Texas along with cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, has pleaded not guilty. Zambada has also pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have stated they will not seek the death penalty against Joaquin Guzman Lopez.
The arrests and internal conflicts within the Sinaloa cartel have sparked significant violence in Mexico, claiming over 1,200 lives. The fighting primarily involves factions loyal to Zambada and those aligned with “El Chapo’s” sons and their “Los Chapitos” faction.