The sons of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the notorious drug kingpin, are reportedly in talks to cut a plea deal with United States prosecutors. Ovidio Guzman and his brother Joaquin Guzman Lopez are accused of helping run the Sinaloa cartel and trafficking drugs into the US. The Guzman brothers, along with their siblings in Mexico, known as the “El Chapitos” faction, have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their father, El Chapo, is currently serving a life sentence in a US supermax facility for drug conspiracy.
The reported plea talks come after one of the brothers was arrested in July at a Texas airport along with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a rival cartel faction leader. Zambada, described as one of the most dangerous drug traffickers, pleaded not guilty to charges in a New York court. Zambada’s lawyer claimed he was kidnapped and forced onto a plane to Texas, where US law enforcement was waiting. Mexican prosecutors have filed kidnapping charges against Guzman Lopez, alleging he smuggled El Mayo into the US in exchange for favorable treatment for his brother.
Experts believe that cooperation from the Guzman sons could provide valuable evidence in the case against Zambada and lead to corruption investigations in Mexico. Plea talks with the US justice system are in the early stages, according to their lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, who also emphasized that the cases of the Guzman brothers are separate. The Assistant US Attorney stated that both sides hope to settle Ovidio’s case before trial and are expecting progress before the next hearing in January.
Following the arrests of Guzman Lopez and El Mayo, a war broke out between the two rival cartel factions, resulting in daily shootouts and violence in Culiacan, Sinaloa state. At least 72 people have been killed and 209 kidnapped in the ongoing violence. The local newspaper El Debate, covering the clashes, was targeted with gunfire but no injuries were reported. The Sinaloa cartel has a long history of brutality against enemies, including law enforcement and journalists.
The Sinaloa cartel has been responsible for a significant portion of the drug trafficking into the US, including dangerous substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine. The arrest of El Mayo was seen as a significant blow to the cartel and a victory for US law enforcement. The ongoing violence in Culiacan and the surrounding areas highlights the continued power struggle within the cartel and the impact it has on the local population. The plea talks with the Guzman sons could potentially lead to more developments in the case against Zambada and other officials involved in the drug trade.
