El Chapo's son admits guilt in U.S. drug trafficking trial

The son of a well-known Mexican drug trafficker, "El Chapo," entered a guilty plea on Friday to drug-related charges in the U.S., marking the first time one of the cartel leader's sons has agreed to a plea deal.

Federal authorities claim Ovidio Guzmán López and his brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, managed a faction of the Sinaloa cartel. Locally referred to as the "Chapitos," or "little Chapos," the group was accused in 2023 of playing a significant role in transporting extremely large amounts of fentanyl into the U.S.

As part of the agreement, Ovidio Guzmán López acknowledged involvement in producing and smuggling cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the United States, worsening a public health crisis linked to tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year.

He admitted guilt on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses tied to his role in the cartel. Details of the plea deal, including possible sentencing terms or cooperation agreements, were not immediately made public.

Rumors about the agreement had circulated for months as negotiations proceeded discreetly.

Jeffrey Lichtman, the attorney representing both brothers, said he would wait until Ovidio Guzmán López’s sentencing before commenting on the merits of the deal.

Sentencing for Ovidio Guzmán López was delayed as he assists U.S. authorities, per his Friday agreement. Whether he avoids a life sentence depends on whether officials determine he has fulfilled his obligations under the deal.

Lichtman did not confirm whether Joaquín Guzmán López’s case might also end in a guilty plea, describing it as an entirely separate matter.

"Joaquín was arrested in the U.S. much later than Ovidio, so the process will take time," he said.

Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor and former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, suggested that by pleading guilty, Ovidio Guzmán López may be trying to protect other relatives.

"This way, he has some influence over who his cooperation implicates and what details become public," she explained.

She described the plea as a significant development for U.S. authorities, stating Ovidio Guzmán López could offer insight into the cartel’s structure.

"This is important," she said. "The most effective way to dismantle the cartel is through internal information, which is what his cooperation provides."

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized what she called inconsistencies in U.S. policy toward Mexican cartels, pointing out that while the U.S. government has labeled them as terrorist groups, it also makes deals with their leaders.

Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is serving a life sentence after his 2019 conviction for leading the Sinaloa cartel, which smuggled vast amounts of cocaine and other drugs into the U.S. over 25 years. The brothers also face ongoing legal proceedings.