U.S. Prosecutors Won't Seek Death Penalty For Son of 'El Chapo' After Reported Plea Deal

U.S. prosecutors won't seek the death penalty for Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of drug lord "El Chapo" Guzman, should he be convicted of the multiple charges he is facing in Chicago.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros informed the decision with a one-sentence notice on Friday, The Associated Press reported. While he did not provide a public explanation, the development comes after a reported plea deal between Guzman Lopez and his brother, Ovidio Guzman, and U.S. authorities.

Earlier in May, more than a dozen of their relatives voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities at the San Ysidro border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego, a move that was linked to the potential plea deal.

Jeffrey Lichtman, lawyer for the Guzman brothers and their father, denied the crossing was a result of the plea deal. However, he did not deny the deal. However, Mexican investigative journalist Anabel Hernández said the surrenders may be linked to "valuable" information that El Chapo's sons have already shared with U.S. officials.

Hernández said in an interview that evidence provided includes video recordings of cash deliveries, which she said are part of material included in the plea agreements.

"Joaquín and his brothers recorded people when they handed over money — just like El Chapo Guzmán," Hernández said. "Where are the videos El Chapo recorded?" she asked, suggesting his sons continued the practice.

As reported by Infobae, Hernández said the information shared by Joaquín and Ovidio Guzmán is so significant that the U.S. government agreed to relocate their mother, Griselda, along with 16 other relatives, and offer them protection in the U.S.

"The U.S. government doesn't just say, 'Sure, bring your friends over, don't worry. Just tell me, Ovidio, who you want, and I'll make it happen.' No. The accused criminals — in this case, Ovidio and Joaquín — are already cooperating and have provided very valuable information," Hernández added.

The journalist also said the information shared by Los Chapitos could implicate high-profile political figures, including former presidents Felipe Calderón, Enrique Peña Nieto and Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The Mexican government seemed to be left in the dark. Earlier this month President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded answers from the Trump administration regarding the matter, saying "they need to explain themselves."

Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch also openly suggested that the transfer likely stems from ongoing negotiations between the Guzman brothers and the U.S. Department of Justice. "Clearly, if Guzmán's family has moved into the U.S., it indicates some form of negotiation or agreement with the Department of Justice," Harfuch stated.