Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of the infamous Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera and a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in Chicago. The 35-year-old admitted to two counts of drug conspiracy and two counts of knowingly engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. This plea is part of an agreement with the government that addresses charges from grand juries in both the Northern District of Illinois and the Southern District of New York.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman did not set a sentencing date for Guzman Lopez, who has been held without bond since his extradition from Mexico in 2023. His guilty plea resulted from cooperation between various Justice Department sections and law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The announcement was made by several officials including Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Adam Gordon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California; Jose A. Perez from the FBI; Steven Jensen from Washington Field Office; Ray Rede from Homeland Security Investigations in Arizona; and Robert Murphy from DEA.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys across multiple districts were involved in representing the government along with Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich.
This plea is part of Operation Take Back America which aims to dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts by various task forces within the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs).
“Today’s historic guilty plea sends yet another crystal-clear message that this Administration is going to shut down and hold accountable transnational criminal organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.
Guzman Lopez acknowledged coordinating large shipments of drugs into the U.S., using a network affiliated with his cartel for transportation via vehicles, rail cars, tunnels, aircraft among other means. He also admitted involvement in laundering illicit proceeds through various methods like bulk cash transport and cryptocurrency transactions.
As part of his plea deal, Guzman Lopez agreed to an $80 million forfeiture money judgment.
“Today’s guilty plea is another major step toward holding the Sinaloa Cartel accountable,” stated U.S. Attorney Clayton while emphasizing their commitment against fentanyl infrastructure.
“With each passing day you are seeing sunset on Sinaloa cartel,” added U.S Attorney Gordon highlighting diminishing influence amid recent violence by “the Chapitos.”
HSI Acting SAC Rede remarked about victory over lawlessness citing extensive efforts by HSI alongside partner agencies securing this verdict ensuring no one evades justice under nation’s laws anymore.
Guzman Lopez’s brothers—Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar , Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar ,and Joaquin Guzman Lopez—face similar charges but remain at different stages within legal proceedings or custody status involving both Northern District Illinois & Southern New York jurisdictions where rewards up $10 million offered leading towards arrest/conviction as noted herewith reminder presumption innocence until proven otherwise beyond reasonable doubt courtroom setting applicable all defendants alike .
