Joaquín Guzmán López Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges
Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has reportedly pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to drug trafficking and continuing criminal enterprise charges. This plea took place on Monday.
The 39-year-old is part of a group known as the Chapitos, which comprises siblings who assumed control of the Sinaloa cartel after El Chapo was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment back in 2019.
According to prosecutors, the Guzmán brothers significantly increased both the production and distribution of drugs, notably fentanyl, establishing a vast network that transported thousands of kilograms of drugs into the United States every year.
In court, Guzmán López, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, answered “drug trafficking” when Judge Sharon Coleman inquired about his profession. The judge’s response was somewhat cavalier: “Oh, that’s your job? That’s fine,” she remarked.
He pleaded guilty to two counts: drug trafficking and continuing criminal enterprise. This admission involved acknowledging his participation in overseeing drug transportation into the U.S., especially using underground tunnels.
His attorney noted that this plea deal allows him to sidestep a life sentence, as reported by various sources. However, Guzmán López still faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and won’t have the right to appeal. Prosecutors indicated they might consider further sentence reductions if he cooperates.
The defendant was arrested alongside long-time cartel executive Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in July 2024 after they arrived in Texas on a private jet.
As part of his plea agreement, Guzmán López also admitted involvement in violent kidnappings associated with cartel disputes. In one instance, armed individuals reportedly stormed a rally, abducting a victim believed to be Zambada, administering drugs, and preparing him for transport to New Mexico.
This plea follows a similar arrangement made by his brother, Ovidio Guzmán López, concerning human trafficking and money laundering charges.
Currently, El Chapo is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for orchestrating a multibillion-dollar drug empire, with prosecutors asserting that his son played a significant role in those activities.
