Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán's son, Ovidio Guzmán López, alias ‘El Ratón,’ has decided to plead guilty to drug trafficking-related charges in a U.S. court. According to a document from the Department of Justice, a hearing scheduled for May 12 was canceled and rescheduled for July, at which time Guzmán López will plead guilty. The file indicates that the government must provide the court with a copy of the plea agreement at least three days before the plea.
He is charged with five counts in the Northern District of Illinois Court, including possession of drugs with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, money laundering, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, and firearm possession. His brothers Iván Archivaldo and Alfredo Guzmán Salazar are also listed in the same file. The former are fugitives from justice, while Ovidio Guzmán López is no longer in custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The news comes amid rumors of a possible deal between one of El Chapo Guzmán's sons and U.S. authorities, which intensified after the arrest of Ovidio's brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, and 'El Mayo' Zambada in Texas. The cancellation of next Monday’s hearing in U.S. justice, combined with the expected plea in July, presents new challenges in Mexican politics.
Ovidio Guzmán was extradited to the United States in September 2023, and his plea is expected to influence the development of judicial investigations against the Sinaloa Cartel in the North American country, as well as potential political and economic connections in Mexico. It is speculated that the agreement with U.S. authorities involves Guzmán López providing crucial information about drug trafficking activities toward North America, which could have repercussions on Mexican politics and the fight against organized crime in the region.
