Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, has changed his plea to guilty in a Chicago court, admitting to drug trafficking and involvement in organized crime. This plea follows his initial not guilty stance after being arrested last year in connection with the Sinaloa cartel.
Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Guzman Lopez spoke briefly during Monday’s court proceedings. When asked by Judge Sharon Coleman about his profession, he candidly responded, “Drug trafficking,” prompting a light-hearted moment in the courtroom. His guilty plea is part of a deal that could help him avoid a life sentence, contingent on his cooperation with U.S. prosecutors and a substantial financial penalty of $80 million, representing the earnings from his illegal activities.
Despite this deal, Guzman Lopez is facing at least ten years in prison, as noted by Andrew Erskine, the attorney representing the federal government. Following the hearing, his defense lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, indicated that the U.S. government had been fair in its dealings with Guzman Lopez and mentioned the absence of interference from the Mexican government.
According to details from the plea agreement, Guzman Lopez confessed to advancing the cartel’s operations through bribes and violence. He and his brothers, known as the “Chapitos” in Mexico, inherit a criminal empire that has been deeply entrenched in drug trafficking and gang violence.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, another of El Chapo’s sons, had previously pleaded guilty in July to multiple drug-related charges and is also facing severe penalties. Their other two brothers remain evaded from law enforcement. El Chapo himself was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 and is serving a life sentence.
U.S. authorities have characterized the Sinaloa cartel as a massive network that plays a pivotal role in funneling alarming amounts of fentanyl into the United States, contributing to a public health crisis.
The heightened security at Chicago’s federal court reflected the gravity of Guzman Lopez’s case, which drew attention due to his dramatic capture in July 2024 alongside Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada after their arrival on a private plane in Texas. This arrest spurred a violent resurgence in Sinaloa as factions within the cartel battled, reportedly over issues of loyalty and betrayal.
In a shocking admission within his plea deal, Guzman Lopez confessed to kidnapping an individual believed to be Zambada. Details shared in court described a calculated operation where an unnamed victim was taken from a meeting, restrained, and sedated before being transported to New Mexico. Notably, this kidnapping, while significant, is not projected to earn Guzman Lopez any cooperation credits in his plea deal.
Zambada has refuted the circumstances of his transportation to the U.S., insisting that he was forcibly taken and that the narrative of voluntary cooperation was false. This ongoing saga underscores the turbulent power dynamics within the Sinaloa cartel and the challenges law enforcement faces in dismantling such complex criminal organizations.
As the case continues to unfold, it remains a stark reminder of the ongoing drug crisis that has plagued both Mexico and the United States. The revelations from Guzman Lopez’s case may shed light on the inner workings of one of the world’s most notorious drug trafficking organizations, potentially aiding efforts to combat the extensive drug trade.