Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of notorious Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, is set to plead guilty this week in a federal court in Chicago on a range of drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy charges. His change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for July 9, according to court documents.
Guzmán López, a prominent figure within the Sinaloa Cartel, is accused of helping to lead a powerful faction that trafficked large quantities of fentanyl into the United States. He was arrested in Mexico in early 2023 and extradited to the U.S. later that year. Initially pleading not guilty, he now appears ready to accept a deal with prosecutors, making him the first of El Chapo’s sons in U.S. custody to do so.
The case has drawn international attention not only for Guzmán López’s role in the cartel but also for the violence that erupted during his capture in Mexico, where several Mexican soldiers lost their lives. Legal experts believe a plea deal would help him avoid a lengthy trial that could expose deeper details about the cartel’s inner workings and its network of influence.
Though details of the agreement remain sealed, sentencing guidelines suggest he could face 20 to 25 years in prison. The development marks a significant milestone in U.S. efforts to dismantle one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations.
