El Chapo’s Sons in Plea Negotiations Over U.S. Drug Trafficking Charges

Ovidio and Joaquín Guzmán López, leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel faction 'Los Chapitos,' are in talks with U.S. prosecutors to avoid trial.

Ovidio Guzmán López, 34, and Joaquín Guzmán López, 38, sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, are negotiating plea deals with U.S. authorities in Chicago to address drug trafficking charges.
The brothers lead the 'Chapitos' faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, identified as a major exporter of fentanyl to the United States, which has fueled the ongoing opioid crisis.
Joaquín Guzmán López surrendered to U.S. authorities in July 2024, allegedly alongside cartel leader Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, whose capture has sparked claims of betrayal and internal cartel conflict.
Plea discussions aim to resolve charges stemming from sprawling 2023 indictments against cartel members, but disagreements persist over whether the deals will cover separate charges in New York.
The arrests and negotiations have intensified violence in Mexico's Sinaloa state, where rival factions within the cartel are vying for control, resulting in over 600 deaths since September.