Overview
- Under a June 30 agreement, Guzmán López will change his plea to guilty on Friday in Chicago federal court, becoming the first son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán to do so.
- He faces charges spanning continuing criminal enterprise, fentanyl trafficking, money laundering and firearms offenses brought by federal prosecutors in multiple jurisdictions.
- Authorities accuse him and his brother Joaquin Guzmán López of leading the “Chapitos” faction that oversaw a massive fentanyl pipeline into the United States.
- The plea requires Guzmán López to cooperate with U.S. authorities and testify against his Sinaloa Cartel associates in exchange for recommendations for a reduced sentence.
- His hearing was quietly moved from Wednesday to Friday after months of confidential negotiations between his defense team and federal prosecutors.