Notorious Mexican drug lord ‘El Chapo’s’ son, Joaquín Guzmán López, has admitted to drug trafficking charges in the US. Joaquín, aged 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking and continuing criminal enterprise, acknowledging his involvement in transporting large quantities of drugs to the US, primarily through underground tunnels. His plea deal is expected to lessen his prison sentence from life imprisonment.
Joaquín’s guilty plea follows his brother Ovidio Guzmán López’s earlier plea deal. The siblings, known as the ‘little Chapos,’ are accused of managing a sector of the Sinaloa cartel. The operation, identified by federal authorities in 2023, aimed to smuggle substantial amounts of fentanyl into the US.
During Joaquín’s court appearance in Chicago, where a significant security presence was noted, he calmly confirmed his involvement in drug trafficking when questioned by District Judge Sharon Coleman. Prosecutors mentioned that if Joaquín cooperates with the US government, his life sentence could be reduced, although he still faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.
In a dramatic arrest in July 2024, Guzmán López and another Sinaloa leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, were apprehended in Texas after arriving in the US on a private plane. Both men had previously pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms charges. The arrest led to increased violence in Sinaloa as rival factions of the cartel clashed.
As part of his plea agreement, Joaquín Guzmán López confessed to facilitating the production and smuggling of various drugs into the US, contributing to a crisis leading to numerous overdose deaths each year. Additionally, he admitted to an alleged kidnapping incident involving Zambada. Despite the alleged cooperation attempt, Guzmán López will not receive any credit for cooperation due to the unauthorized actions.
The defense attorney for Zambada claimed his client was forcefully taken onto the US-bound flight by Guzmán López, intending to seek a reduced sentence. Joaquín’s brother Ovidio previously pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms charges, marking a significant development in the US government’s pursuit of Sinaloa cartel figures.
Joaquín’s father, ‘El Chapo,’ is currently serving a life sentence for his leadership in the cartel’s drug smuggling operations into the US. The Guzmán brothers are believed to have assumed leadership roles in the cartel following their father’s incarceration.
