El Chapo's Son, Joaquín Guzmán López, Set to Plead Guilty in US Federal Court

Guilty Plea Expected in Chicago Federal Court

Joaquín Guzmán López, son of notorious drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán and a prominent leader within the 'Los Chapitos' faction of the Sinaloa cartel, is slated to plead guilty next week in a US federal court. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 1st, at the US District Court in Chicago, Illinois, where he is expected to change his initial plea of not guilty. Guzmán López faces charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses.

Background on Arrest and Charges

Guzmán López originally pleaded not guilty following his arrest in July 2024. His apprehension occurred in Texas after he arrived aboard a small private plane, reportedly alongside Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel. Zambada later claimed he was misled about the flight's destination and effectively handed over to US authorities by Guzmán López. This incident is believed to have significantly intensified internal conflicts within the Sinaloa cartel, leading to violent clashes between the 'Los Chapitos' faction and forces loyal to Zambada, resulting in hundreds of deaths and disappearances in Mexico.

'Los Chapitos' and Cartel Dynamics

Joaquín Guzmán López, also known by the alias 'El Güero', is one of four sons of 'El Chapo' Guzmán, who is currently serving a life sentence in a US federal prison. Together with his brothers, including Ovidio Guzmán López, they are known as 'Los Chapitos' and assumed leadership roles within the Sinaloa cartel after their father's 2016 arrest and 2019 conviction. The US government has intensified pressure on the cartel, particularly for its role in trafficking fentanyl, which has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States.

Plea Agreement and Implications

The upcoming change of plea follows months of negotiations between Guzmán López's legal team and US prosecutors. Federal prosecutors have indicated they will not seek the death penalty in this case. This development mirrors a similar outcome for his brother, Ovidio Guzmán, who pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiracy related to drug trafficking and participating in a criminal enterprise, as part of a plea deal for a reduced sentence. The plea by Joaquín Guzmán López is seen as another significant step in the US government's ongoing efforts to dismantle the leadership and operations of the Sinaloa cartel.