Overview

• On May 23, federal prosecutors filed a notice committing not to seek a death sentence if Joaquin Guzman Lopez is convicted on eight counts, including drug trafficking, money laundering and conspiracy.
• Joaquin Guzman Lopez pleaded not guilty and remains detained after his July 2024 arrest alongside Sinaloa Cartel figure Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in Texas.
• Ovidio Guzman Lopez, extradited to the US in 2023, is scheduled to change his plea to guilty at a Chicago hearing on July 9 under a deal with prosecutors.
• Both brothers head the “Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, which US authorities allege is a leading exporter of fentanyl into the country.
• Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman, who represents both siblings, said he welcomes the decision and noted it could clear the path for a broader resolution in the US crackdown on the cartel.