In a stunning development, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of infamous Mexican drug lord 'El Chapo', has pleaded guilty to running a continuing criminal enterprise, marking a dramatic shift in his stance from not guilty to one of culpability.
Guzman Lopez's change of heart came after his July 2024 arrest in Texas, when he was taken into custody alongside Ismael "Mayo" Zambada, the co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel. The young man had initially denied involvement in any wrongdoing but later claimed to have been coerced by Zambada, who said he was misled about the destination of his flight.
As part of a plea deal, another Guzman brother, Ovidio, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy related to drug trafficking and participating in a criminal enterprise. Ovidio admitted that he and his brothers had taken over their father's operations within the cartel.
The Sinaloa cartel's infighting has led to devastating consequences, with approximately 1,200 deaths in Mexico and around 1,400 disappearances reported. The US government accuses the cartel of trafficking fentanyl, which has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in recent years, straining relations between the two countries.
The Guzman brothers, including Joaquin's son, have been designated as global terrorist organizations by the Trump administration, and a $10 million reward is currently being offered for each fugitive brother. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are also facing drug trafficking charges but remain at large.
With this guilty plea, Joaquin Guzman Lopez faces significant consequences for his alleged role in the Sinaloa cartel's operations. His father, 'El Chapo', is serving a life sentence at a supermax federal prison in Colorado after being convicted of various crimes related to his involvement with the cartel.
Guzman Lopez's change of heart came after his July 2024 arrest in Texas, when he was taken into custody alongside Ismael "Mayo" Zambada, the co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel. The young man had initially denied involvement in any wrongdoing but later claimed to have been coerced by Zambada, who said he was misled about the destination of his flight.
As part of a plea deal, another Guzman brother, Ovidio, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy related to drug trafficking and participating in a criminal enterprise. Ovidio admitted that he and his brothers had taken over their father's operations within the cartel.
The Sinaloa cartel's infighting has led to devastating consequences, with approximately 1,200 deaths in Mexico and around 1,400 disappearances reported. The US government accuses the cartel of trafficking fentanyl, which has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in recent years, straining relations between the two countries.
The Guzman brothers, including Joaquin's son, have been designated as global terrorist organizations by the Trump administration, and a $10 million reward is currently being offered for each fugitive brother. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are also facing drug trafficking charges but remain at large.
With this guilty plea, Joaquin Guzman Lopez faces significant consequences for his alleged role in the Sinaloa cartel's operations. His father, 'El Chapo', is serving a life sentence at a supermax federal prison in Colorado after being convicted of various crimes related to his involvement with the cartel.
I mean, can't believe Guzman Lopez was doing this all along and still managed to deny it like his dad did back in the day 
. But you know what really got me? The fact that he had a change of heart after getting caught in Texas... sounds kinda convenient 
. And what about Ovidio, his brother who pleaded guilty earlier? Did the US government offer him a plea deal too or is he just trying to save his own skin 
?
They're all part of a system, you know? Their dad 'El Chapo' built an empire, but at what cost? The people of Mexico have been suffering for years because of the cartel's infighting. It's just business as usual, with innocent lives lost on both sides. 
just read that Joaquin Guzman Lopez has changed his mind about being all innocent 
and now he's taking responsibility for running a criminal enterprise 
that's some serious drama, especially considering how it all went down - from being coerced by Zambada to pleading guilty in a matter of months 
this is some intense power play between the brothers and the US government 
and taking responsibility for his actions... it's crazy how things have turned out, especially after initially denying any involvement 
. it just goes to show how far down the rabbit hole these cartel families can fall.
. it's also interesting that ovidio guzman brother has already copped to conspiracy charges... i wonder if this is part of some larger effort to get the entire fam to spill the beans 
.
. anyway, with joaquin singing like a bird now, i guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out 
.
His dad 'El Chapo' was a real-life supervillain, but you can't deny the Sinaloa cartel's grip on Mexico is suffocating 
. 1,200 deaths and 1,400 disappearances? That's some heavy karma, imo... hope Joaquin's cooperation will lead to more heads rolling 
. His case is a reminder that even when it comes to crime families, the US government won't back down from taking them down 
It also raises questions about Ovidio's involvement in the family business - did he really get coerced into pleading guilty or was that just a way to save his own skin? 
. And another thing, what's up with these brothers taking over their dad's operation? You'd think they'd be more worried about being caught too 
.