Ovidio “Elraton” Guzman Lopez, one of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons, has reached a plea agreement with U.S. prosecutors and is expected to plead guilty to multiple drug conspiracy charges shortly.
In a court session on Tuesday, Guzman’s attorneys, along with representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, notified U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman of his intention to change his plea.
As a result, the judge canceled a previously scheduled status hearing for May 12 and has set a new hearing for July 9. During this upcoming hearing, Guzman is likely to formally plead guilty to several of the charges against him. The judge instructed the defense to submit a copy of the plea agreement at least three days prior to the next court date.
According to reports, Ovidio is one of four sons of the incarcerated Sinaloa cartel leader. Joaquin Guzman was arrested in 2017, extradited to the U.S., and subsequently sentenced to life in prison in 2019. Following his father’s imprisonment, the sons, known as Los Chapitos, established their own criminal operations that have become notorious for their violence and focus on fentanyl production.
Ovidio received his nickname after being arrested by Mexican federal forces on October 17, 2019. In response, his brothers displayed the cartel’s might in Culiacán, forcing the then-Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to order the release of those detained, including Ovidio himself.
Mexican authorities apprehended Guzman again on January 5, 2023, and held him until his extradition to the U.S. in September, as reported.
Last summer, conflict escalated when Guzman’s brothers turned against other Sinaloa cartel leaders, including Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. This perceived act of betrayal has since ignited a brutal turf war, resulting in thousands of casualties and widespread fear in western Mexico.
