El Chapo's Son to Enter Guilty Plea in U.S. Drug Case, Suggesting Deal with Authorities

Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, will plead guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges in a Chicago federal court on July 9, according to official court documents.

Known as "El Ratón," Guzmán faces multiple counts across various jurisdictions, including drug distribution, money laundering, weapons charges, and participation in a criminal enterprise.

The cartel leader initially pleaded not guilty after his extradition from Mexico in September 2023, but postponed hearings and recent court filings indicate a shift toward a more cooperative stance. A copy of the plea agreement has been requested by the court, reinforcing expectations of collaboration, as Mexico's El Universal reported.

The most recent developments seem to confirm that Ovidio has agreed to provide intelligence to U.S. authorities following a pattern seen in previous prosecutions, such as those involving former cartel members turned witnesses. Analysts suggest that information provided by Ovidio could be used against high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel figures, including Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the co-founder of the cartel and a former longtime ally of his father.

Ovidio's brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, is also in custody in Chicago and reportedly engaged in similar negotiations, as El Pais reports. In July 2024, Joaquín allegedly orchestrated the clandestine handover of Zambada to U.S. authorities under the pretext of a cartel meeting, aiming to leverage the betrayal in exchange for sentencing benefits for himself and Ovidio. Zambada, once thought unreachable, is now facing 17 federal charges in New York.

The news comes just days after Mexican journalist David Saucedo revealed that Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, currently serving a life sentence, is also cooperating with prosecutors by supplying information on Zambada's financial infrastructure, trafficking operations, and political connections in hopes of improving his prison conditions.

This apparent cascade of plea agreements and informant cooperation reflects the ongoing fragmentation of the Sinaloa Cartel. With key figures imprisoned or turning state's witness, the remaining leadership, namely Iván Archivaldo Guzmán and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán, faces mounting pressure.