Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her hopes on Friday that boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. would serve time for alleged weapon trafficking and organized crime if he is deported to Mexico after his arrest in Los Angeles on Thursday. Chavez was found to be in the U.S. illegally, as he made a false declaration related to his 2024 application for permanent residency through his marriage to a U.S. citizen.
“The hope is that he will be deported and serve his sentence in Mexico,” Sheinbaum stated during a news briefing, highlighting the serious charges Chavez faces concerning arms and drug trafficking.
The 39-year-old Chavez was arrested while riding a scooter in Studio City’s upscale area by federal agents this past Wednesday, according to his lawyer, Michael Goldstein. This arrest occurred just days after Chavez lost a boxing match against influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Anaheim.
Chavez split his time between the U.S. and Mexico. He was detained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) because he overstayed a tourist visa that expired in February 2024. Reports indicate he has been charged with several crimes during his time in the U.S.
In a brief history, Chavez was arrested in January 2012 for driving offenses, leading to a DUI conviction. Then, in January 2023, a district judge issued a warrant for him related to organized crime charges, including human trafficking and illegal weapon manufacturing. In early 2024, he faced further charges for the illegal possession and manufacturing of assault weapons.
The DHS has also suggested that Chavez may have connections to the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated foreign terrorist organization. This claim is tied to his past relationship with the late son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the infamous cartel leader. Interestingly, despite being labeled a “severe public safety threat” by immigration authorities in December 2024, he was allowed to re-enter the country in early January 2025 under the Biden administration’s immigration enforcement priorities.
