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. Joaquín Guzmán López, also known as one of the “Chapitos” in Mexico, along with his brother Ovidio Guzmán López, have been implicated in managing a sector of the Sinaloa cartel. In 2023, federal authorities described their operation as a substantial endeavor to smuggle substantial amounts of fentanyl into the U.S.
At 39 years old, Joaquín Guzmán López confessed to two drug trafficking charges and engaging in organized criminal activities, acknowledging his involvement in overseeing the transportation of massive drug quantities to the U.S., primarily through underground tunnels. By accepting the plea deal, he will evade a life sentence.
Security measures were stringent at the federal court in Chicago before the hearing commenced, during which prosecutors outlined the events leading to Guzmán López’s arrest, alongside another senior figure from the Sinaloa cartel on U.S. territory in July 2024.
Guzmán López, attired in an orange jumpsuit with matching shoes, maintained a minimal presence in court. When asked by U.S. District Judge Sharon Coleman about his occupation, he bluntly replied, “Drug trafficking.” Judge Coleman, with a light-hearted tone, responded, “Oh, that’s your job. There you go.”
Prosecutors indicated that if Guzmán López cooperates with the U.S. authorities, they are willing to reduce the life sentence tied to his charges. Nevertheless, he is expected to serve 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 will not have the opportunity to appeal his sentence. His defense attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, expressed his appreciation for the fair treatment from both U.S. and Mexican officials.
“The authorities have handled Joaquín very fairly thus far,” Lichtman conveyed to journalists following the courtroom proceedings. “I am grateful for the non-interference from the Mexican government.”
In a joint operation, Joaquín Guzmán López and another Sinaloa leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, were apprehended in Texas in July 2024 upon their arrival in the U.S. via a private aircraft. Both individuals had previously pleaded not guilty to various charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms possession. Their high-profile capture led to heightened violence in the Mexican state of Sinaloa as rival factions within the Sinaloa cartel clashed.
As part of his admission, Joaquín Guzmán López confessed to aiding in the production and smuggling of significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the United States, contributing to a crisis that results in tens of thousands of overdose deaths annually.
Confession of Kidnapping
Guzmán López also acknowledged his involvement in the alleged abduction of an unnamed individual believed to be Zambada. Erskine detailed the purported kidnapping in court, describing how Guzmán López had a floor-to-ceiling window’s glass removed for the operation.
During a meeting in the room with the unidentified individual
