WASHINGTON – Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of Mexican drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, has pleaded guilty to four charges related to drug trafficking and organised crime in a United States (US) federal court, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
The US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois said on Friday Guzmán López “pleaded guilty to two counts of drug conspiracy and two counts of knowingly engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise.”
Known as ‘El Ratón’, Guzmán López in the plea admitted coordinating the transportation of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs and precursor chemicals from Mexico to the US border, as well as using a criminal network to smuggle the drugs into the country.
He also admitted that he and his associates perpetrated violence against authorities, civilians, and rivals to protect the cartel’s activities.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin and has been called a major driver of the US opioid crisis.
As part of a plea deal, Guzmán agreed to forfeit US$80 million.
The 35-year-old said in his plea that he and his three brothers, known as “the Chapitos,” took over their father’s leadership role in the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful cartels, following his arrest in 2016.
His three brothers were also charged with drug trafficking in the US; their father was arrested last year and remains in US custody while awaiting trial.
Guzmán López was arrested by Mexican authorities in January 2023 and later extradited to the US. He had initially pleaded not guilty but later signalled his intention to change his plea. He remains in US custody.
According to Mexican newspaper Milenio, Guzmán López could have faced a life sentence had he not cooperated. Sentencing is expected within the next six months. – July 12, 2025