Ovidio Guzman, one of the sons of the famous Mexican drug boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in the United States. This makes him the first among El Chapo’s children to agree to a plea deal with US prosecutors.
US officials say that Ovidio and his brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, led a part of the Sinaloa cartel known as the “Chapitos,” which means “Little Chapos.” They are accused of running a huge operation that pushed large amounts of fentanyl into the US. Fentanyl is a dangerous drug responsible for many overdose deaths each year.
As part of the plea deal, Ovidio admitted to helping produce and move cocaine, heroin, meth, marijuana, and fentanyl into the US. His actions helped feed the ongoing drug crisis in America.
He admitted guilt for drug trafficking, money laundering, and using weapons, all tied to his role in the cartel. The full details of his plea deal haven’t been shared yet. His sentencing has been delayed so he can help US officials. Whether or not he avoids a life sentence depends on how much he cooperates.
Ovidio’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, said it’s too early to judge if the deal is a good one. He added that his brother Joaquin’s case is different and that Joaquin was caught in the US at a much later time.
Experts say that Ovidio’s decision to work with the US could be a turning point in the fight against the cartel. Law professor Laurie Levenson mentioned that Ovidio might have done this to protect his family and have some control over who he talks about. She described his guilty plea as a big step that might help the US break down the cartel’s network.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has criticized how the US handles cartel cases. She pointed out that the US calls the cartels terrorist groups but still makes deals with their leaders, which she believes is a contradiction.
El Chapo is already serving a life sentence in the US for trafficking large amounts of drugs for over 25 years. Since then, his sons have taken over major roles in the cartel.
Ovidio was first arrested in Mexico, then sent to the US. He first said he was not guilty but later decided to change his plea. His brother Joaquin and another major cartel figure, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, were arrested later in Texas after flying in on a private jet. Both of them have said they are not guilty. Their arrests led to a wave of violence in Sinaloa state as different groups within the cartel fought for control.
