Ovidio Guzmán and Joaquín Guzmán López, sons of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, are in negotiations for a plea deal with the U.S. government, according to their attorney. This update was revealed during a federal court hearing in Chicago on Monday, confirming earlier reports from the Mexican news outlet Milenio regarding their discussions for a potentially lenient sentence.
While it is unclear whether the Guzmán brothers will accept a plea agreement or agree to become cooperating witnesses, the negotiations suggest a significant development in their ongoing legal battles. During the hearing, the judge permitted both brothers to be represented by attorney Jeffrey Lichtman, who previously defended their father during his highly publicized trial in 2019.
El Chapo has submitted a letter to the Brooklyn federal court requesting a new trial, citing claims of “ineffective” legal representation and “illegal” extradition to New York.
Ovidio Guzmán and Joaquín Guzmán López, along with their two other brothers who remain at large in Mexico, are leaders of “Los Chapitos,” a faction of the Sinaloa cartel, one of the largest organized crime syndicates in Mexico. They face multiple charges in the northern district of Illinois, including conspiracy to maintain a criminal enterprise and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Ovidio was arrested in Mexico in 2023 and subsequently extradited to the United States. Joaquín Guzmán López was arrested in July alongside Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the elusive leader of the Sinaloa cartel. El Mayo has accused Joaquín of kidnapping him and then handing him over to U.S. authorities. The Mexican attorney general’s office has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding El Mayo's arrest, with claims that he was deceived into a meeting where he was overpowered.
In a related case, U.S. officials are considering pursuing the death penalty against El Mayo, with a hearing scheduled for January 15, 2025.
Tensions between the factions led by Los Chapitos and El Mayo have escalated since El Mayo’s son testified against El Chapo during his trial. The recent kidnapping incident has further fueled the conflict, leading to violent confrontations as both factions vie for control of drug trafficking routes and dominance within the Sinaloa cartel.
The Sinaloa cartel has historically been the dominant force in Mexico’s drug trade, engaging in violent battles with rival organizations and corrupting political figures.
In a notable development last week, Genaro García Luna, Mexico’s former security minister, was sentenced to 38 years in prison for collaborating with the Sinaloa cartel. García Luna had significant influence over Mexico’s federal police and established a cooperative relationship with U.S. law enforcement agencies, reportedly receiving millions in bribes to protect cartel operations.
The next hearing for Ovidio Guzmán and Joaquín Guzmán López is scheduled for January 7, 2025, where it may be determined whether they will enter a plea deal and potentially cooperate with the government against El Mayo. Their attorney has not disclosed whether they will collaborate in the ongoing investigation.
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