'El Chapo' son strikes deal with feds that could save him from life sentence, admits to 'El Mayo' kidnapping

In a stunning turn of events, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera's son, 39-year-old Joaquin Guzman Lopez, has struck a deal with federal prosecutors in Chicago, California, and Washington D.C. that could potentially save him from a life sentence for his role in the brazen kidnapping of his former partner, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

According to court documents, Guzman Lopez had been lured by El Mayo to a meeting in Sinaloa, Mexico, where he was accompanied by several henchmen. The group then ambushed El Mayo, dragging him into a room and locking the door before removing the glass from a floor-to-ceiling window. Once inside, they handcuffed El Mayo and pulled a bag over his head, rendering him unconscious.

Guzman Lopez subsequently joined El Mayo on a small plane bound for New Mexico in July 2024, where he hoped to receive cooperation credit from the US government for himself and his brother. However, under the terms of his plea agreement, Guzman Lopez will not receive credit for the kidnapping, nor will his brother Ovidio Guzman Lopez.

The deal also marks a significant shift in Guzman Lopez's account of events, as he had previously denied any involvement in El Mayo's abduction. His new statement comes just months after Ovidio Guzman Lopez pleaded guilty to similar charges and struck a deal that could save him from a life sentence.

As part of the plea agreement, Guzman Lopez has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors, admitting to a range of serious crimes including drug trafficking conspiracy and continuing criminal enterprise. While he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, his cooperation may potentially reduce his sentence under certain conditions.

Guzman Lopez's case is just one in a series of high-profile cases involving the Chapito brothers, who took control of the Sinaloa cartel after El Mayo was taken down by authorities. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar have been accused of torturing their enemies, including electrocuting them and feeding them alive to tigers.

As for El Mayo, his former partner is now 75 years old and has pleaded guilty to drug charges in New York. His case marks a significant development in the ongoing saga of the Sinaloa cartel's inner workings.

omg i cant believe el chapo's son just got a sweet deal outta this his crime is still super serious tho, kidnapping and all that at least he's being honest now about what went down, but like 10 years in prison still feels harsh its not easy to see how far el mayo has fallen too, from former partner to elderly prisoner

Im not surprised that Joaquin Guzman Lopez took a plea deal , to be honest. He was always living a pretty lavish lifestyle and now he's trying to save his own skin. I think its pretty weak that he's going to face less than 10 years in prison though... considering all the crimes he's admitting to . His cooperation might get him some leeway but it still seems like he's getting off easy compared to other people involved with the cartel. Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar should definitely be facing the music, those two are total thugs . And its crazy that El Mayo is now 75 years old... a former kingpin just getting old and out of power .

This whole thing is just another example of how the US system is still all about favors and who you know, right? I mean, Joaquin Guzman Lopez gets to avoid a life sentence just because he agreed to cooperate with the feds. It's like he's being rewarded for turning in his brother Ovidio instead of standing by him through thick and thin.

And what about all the other low-level players who get caught up in the cartel's mess? Do they really think the system is gonna give them a break just because they're doing time with their big brother? It's like, hello, you made your bed, now lie in it. At least El Mayo took responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty. Guzman Lopez is just dodging accountability.

And let's not forget about Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo - the Chapito brothers who are running the Sinaloa cartel into the ground. They're basically responsible for all the violence and suffering that's happening in Mexico right now. But hey, they get to live their lives while El Mayo has to deal with the consequences of his actions. It just doesn't add up, you know?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this deal ... like, Guzman Lopez was involved in that kidnapping for real? It's crazy how quickly he flipped sides. I mean, his brother Ovidio already did the same thing and now they're both playing good cop/bad cop with the feds. It's just too much drama for one family . And what's up with these Chapito brothers, torturing people left and right? It's like, isn't that why they're in prison in the first place .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing ... Like, how did El Chapo's son end up being involved with his former partner's kidnapping? It just seems so twisted . And now he's cooperating with the feds and might get a reduced sentence? It feels like he's turning state's evidence to save his own skin . I'm curious to see how this all plays out, but it's definitely some wild stuff . Maybe someone can explain to me why the Chapito brothers feel the need to be so violent all the time?

can't believe what's going on with these cartel guys! like, El Chapo's son Joaquin just makes a deal with the feds and gets to potentially avoid life in prison for his part in kidnapping El Mayo? that's crazy talk! I mean, I get it, he's cooperating and all, but 10 years is still a pretty harsh sentence if you ask me. what about justice here? shouldn't someone be held accountable for such serious crimes?

So Guzman Lopez just saved his own skin by flipping on his bro Ovidio and El Mayo... that's some intense negotiation skills! I wonder if he got a good deal out of it though, 10 years is still a looong time in prison especially considering the crimes he admits to.

I'm also kinda curious about the power dynamics at play here. The Sinaloa cartel has been around for decades and seems like it's just getting more complicated... are we gonna see a wave of other former members turning rat?

anyway, I guess this is just another chapter in the never-ending saga of the Guzman brothers

I'm low-key impressed by Guzman Lopez's decision to flip and cooperate with the feds! He's got a pretty sweet deal going on, considering he could've gone down for life without it . The fact that he's taking credit for his crimes now is still weird tho... like, did he really think this would get him a better sentence? Still, kudos to him for being strategic and trying to save his own skin . And omg, the Guzman Salazar brothers are just straight up savage . Torturing people and feeding them to tigers is just wild . Can't wait to see how this all plays out in court!

omg what's going on with these Guzman brothers i mean i get it, they're in deep and trying to save themselves but it's crazy how far down the rabbit hole they've gone el chapo's name is still making headlines even though he's not as prominent anymore, and now his son and nephew are following in his footsteps

anyway, i'm glad some of them are taking responsibility for their actions ( sort of ) and cooperating with the authorities. it's like, you gotta take the good with the bad, right? but still, 10 years in prison is a pretty light sentence considering what they've done

and what about el mayo's case? 75 years old and pleading guilty to drug charges? that's some harsh punishment if you ask me i mean, he's been through so much already, it's like the system is just piling on

El Chapo's son finally talks He gets credit for being a good egg by cooperating, while his bro is toast

So Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera's son thinks he can just waltz into a deal that'll save his bacon? Like, what's next? His kid comes out and says "Hey, I was there for the moon landing too"? But seriously, it's wild that El Mayo's still around and is now 75. Maybe he should join a senior citizens' cartel... Anyway, it just goes to show how crazy the world of organized crime can be

just read about this... think its crazy that el chapo's son got a deal . can't believe he was involved in el mayo's kidnapping, what a mess . feels like there are still so many loose ends with these guys and the cartel . 10 years is a drop in the bucket compared to what these guys have done. hope they get what's coming to them... but at the same time, feel bad for el mayo who's just trying to make it through his life

just thinkin... if Guzman Lopez is willin' to flip on his brother and El Mayo, that means there's probably more info about what went down with the Sinaloa cartel. maybe this is a chance for some real accountability? 10 years in prison is still a lotta time tho

this whole thing just seems so messed up... i mean, joaquin guzman lopez, his son, is basically gonna get away scot-free for helping kidnap el mayo and puttin' him through all that torture. and now he's tryin to play it cool with the feds, actin like he didn't do nothin', but we all know he was in deep with his pops at the sinaloa cartel.

and what really gets me is that ovidio guzman lopez, his brother, got caught and pleaded guilty months ago. now it's like they're tryin to play both sides against each other, see who can get a better deal from the feds. it just feels so... rigged.

OMG, can't believe Guzman Lopez just turned snitch on his own family!! I mean, who does that?! It's like he's trying to save his own skin, but at what cost? His brother Ovidio got a slap on the wrist for this stuff and now he's singing like a bird? Guzman Lopez is basically betraying their family legacy by cooperating with the feds. I feel bad for El Mayo though, getting kidnapped and tortured like that... still can't believe the Sinaloa cartel's reach is so deep

so this guy Joaquin Guzman Lopez thinks he can just make a deal and walk away from life without serving any time for kidnapping his own partner? it doesn't sit right with me. He's basically saying he was coerced into doing something, but I'm not buying it. First Ovidio gets off scot-free, now this guy is trying to wriggle out of his responsibilities too... what about the rest of El Mayo's family? Don't they deserve some justice for what happened to him? And what about all these other cartel members who are still on the loose, committing crimes and getting away with it because they're connected to the right people?

So Guzman Lopez is gonna get off easy after all I mean, he was part of the crew that kidnapped El Mayo and now he's cooperating with the feds? It doesn't add up. He should be facing a lot more consequences than just 10 years in for his role in the kidnapping. And what's even crazier is that his brother Ovidio pleaded guilty months ago but got a similar deal, while Guzman Lopez gets to stay out of the slammer? It's all about who's got the most cash and influence, right?

Ugh , another corrupt deal in the US justice system . Like what even is the point of these plea agreements? It's just a way for them to get some info out of you and slap on a lighter sentence . And Guzman Lopez gets a pass on kidnapping his own partner, but now he has to cooperate with the feds and potentially do more time . Meanwhile, Ovidio Guzman Lopez got off scot-free after just months of negotiating . The system is so messed up .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. So Guzman Lopez is basically saying he didn't participate in El Mayo's kidnapping, but now he's cooperating with the feds and taking a plea deal for serious crimes like drug trafficking... it just doesn't add up . And what's really crazy is that his brother Ovidio was able to plead guilty and get a reduced sentence, while Guzman Lopez gets stuck with 10 years? It's all so convoluted . Anyway, I guess this just shows how messed up the justice system can be sometimes .