Ovidio Guzmán López to plead guilty to drug trafficking charges

In recent developments related to drug trafficking, Ovidio Guzmán López, son of the infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, is expected to plead guilty to charges in the United States. This legal move follows his extradition to the U.S. in September 2023, after his capture by Mexican authorities earlier that year. The court documents, which have been signed and dated June 30, reveal that Guzmán acknowledges an indictment against him in the Southern District of New York and has consented to have the case transferred to the Northern District of Illinois, where he is currently imprisoned. His change-of-plea hearing is set for July 9, and it has been reported that the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York has dropped its own charges against him as a result of the ongoing plea agreement in Chicago. Guzmán, known by the moniker 'El Ratón,' previously pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States. He was actively involved with the 'Los Chapitos' faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, which has been in violent conflict with another faction led by the son of El Mayo Zambada, a co-leader of the cartel. Ovidio's plea agreement appears to be part of a coordinated effort with federal prosecutors, indicating a significant step in the U.S. crackdown on drug trafficking operations that have impacted the nation for years. By agreeing to plead guilty, Guzmán becomes the first brother to enter a plea deal amidst ongoing investigations involving the Sinaloa Cartel.