Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, pleaded guilty Monday in a Chicago court to drug trafficking and continuing criminal enterprise charges. The plea deal allows him to cooperate with US prosecutors for a reduced sentence, potentially avoiding life imprisonment depending on his level of cooperation.
Guzman Lopez, one of four sons of the jailed Sinaloa cartel leader, initially pleaded not guilty following his July 2024 arrest in Texas. Under the plea agreement, he is also required to forfeit $80 million in proceeds from his criminal activities.
Another son, Ovidio Guzman, previously admitted in July 2025 to conspiracy related to drug trafficking and running criminal enterprise operations, confirming that he and his brothers, known as “Los Chapitos,” had taken over their father’s cartel activities.
Authorities say Guzman Lopez was involved in shipping large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana from Mexico into the United States. His arrest came alongside Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, leading to violent clashes between cartel factions that resulted in roughly 1,200 deaths and 1,400 disappearances in Mexico.
The Sinaloa cartel is among six Mexican drug-trafficking groups designated as global terrorist organizations by the US government. In June, the Trump administration added further sanctions on “Los Chapitos” and increased rewards to $10 million for each fugitive brother. Two other sons, Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, remain at large but face US drug trafficking charges.
