Son of ‘El Chapo’ Ovidio Guzmán seeks agreement with US authorities

• Ovidio Guzmán seeks agreement.
• Charges faced by El Chapo’s son.
• Will he be able to get out of prison?

Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquín «El Chapo» Guzmán, may be close to reaching an agreement with U.S. authorities.

This would allow him to reduce his sentence in exchange for pleading guilty and cooperating with relevant information.

This development has generated expectations about his judicial future, especially after his extradition in September 2023.

During the hearing on January 7, 2025, in the U.S. Federal Court for the Northern District of Illinois, prosecutor Andrew Connor Erskine requested more time to advance negotiations with Jeffrey Litchman, Ovidio’s defense attorney.

Ovidio Guzmán seeking to reduce his sentence?

The goal is to reach a global agreement that includes the charges filed against Guzmán in two U.S. federal courts.

Litchman confirmed that his client faces accusations not only in Illinois but also in the Southern District of New York.

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Where other important cases are being processed, such as the one involving Ismael «El Mayo» Zambada.

The possibility of a global agreement would include all pending charges in both jurisdictions.

In Illinois, Guzmán faces five charges related to drug trafficking and organized crime.

His charges include: Possession of drugs with intent to distribute; Conspiracy to manufacture, import, and distribute controlled substances.

As well as conspiracy to money laundering; Participation in a continuing criminal enterprise, and possession of firearms.

In New York, the charges include: Conspiracy to import and traffic fentanyl.

Additionally, possession and conspiracy to possess weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to money laundering.

Both courts seek to prosecute Guzmán as part of investigations into the Sinaloa Cartel, of which he is considered one of the main leaders, along with his brothers and «El Mayo» Zambada.

Since October 29, 2024, Ovidio Guzmán has not been in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Speculation suggests that he could be in a safe house or in a state-run prison managed outside the Department of Justice.

#BreakingNews | Joaquín and Ovidio Guzmán did not appear before the Federal Court in Chicago.

Photo: Cuartoscuro pic.twitter.com/rbvB9Pgc4z

— NMás (@nmas) January 7, 2025

His next hearing is scheduled for February 27, 2025, in Illinois, where progress in the negotiations is expected to be defined.

If Guzmán agrees to plead guilty, he could receive a reduced sentence and specific benefits, such as better prison conditions.

According to journalist Luis Chaparro, the terms of the agreement could include him and his brothers becoming cooperating or protected witnesses.

Providing information about cartel operations and testifying against key figures like «El Mayo» Zambada or Dámaso López Serrano, alias «El Mini Lic».

On the other hand, journalist Óscar Balderas pointed out that the negotiations also include aspects like the type of prison where he would serve his sentence.

Prioritizing spaces with access to recreational areas, personal visits, and greater comfort.

Such an agreement could set a precedent in cases related to the Sinaloa Cartel.

In addition to reducing his sentence, Guzmán could provide valuable information to dismantle criminal operations and confront other drug trafficking leaders.

However, agreeing to cooperate with U.S. authorities could carry risks, as Guzmán’s testimony could put him in conflict with other members of the cartel.

Despite the progress in the negotiations, Ovidio Guzmán’s judicial outlook remains uncertain.

His decision to cooperate with authorities could redefine his fate, but it could also expose critical details of Sinaloa Cartel operations.

For now, all signs point to negotiations continuing in the coming months, with the expectation of a possible agreement before his next hearing.

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