Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Son of ‘El Chapo,’ Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges in Chicago

Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 35, who succeeded his father, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, as a leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty on July 12, 2025, to federal drug charges in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The guilty plea marks a significant milestone in the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to dismantle one of the world’s most notorious drug trafficking organizations.

Guzman Lopez admitted to two counts of drug conspiracy and two counts of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. His plea was part of a multi-district agreement resolving charges brought by grand juries in the Northern District of Illinois and the Southern District of New York. U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman accepted the plea but has not yet scheduled a sentencing date. Guzman Lopez has been detained without bond since his extradition from Mexico to the United States in 2023.

The guilty plea stems from a collaborative effort involving the Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, prosecutors from the Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of New York, and Southern District of California, and law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Additional support was provided by IRS Criminal Investigation, the Justice Department’s Offices of International Affairs and Enforcement Operations, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

“This historic guilty plea sends a clear message that this Administration is committed to shutting down transnational criminal organizations and holding their leaders accountable,” said Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “Our office in Chicago will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of drug cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization.”

Leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel

Guzman Lopez, along with his three brothers—known collectively as “the Chapitos”—assumed control of the Sinaloa Cartel following their father’s arrest in 2016 and subsequent conviction in the Eastern District of New York. In his plea agreement, Guzman Lopez admitted to coordinating the transportation of massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs from Mexico to the U.S. border, often in shipments weighing hundreds or thousands of kilograms. The cartel employed a network of couriers, utilizing vehicles, rail cars, tunnels, aircraft, and other methods to smuggle drugs into the United States.

Once distributed across the U.S., the cartel laundered its illicit proceeds through bulk cash transport, wire transfers, trade of goods, and cryptocurrency, ensuring funds were funneled back to Guzman Lopez and other cartel members in Mexico. The plea agreement also detailed the cartel’s use of violence against law enforcement, civilians, and rival traffickers to protect its operations.

As part of the plea, Guzman Lopez agreed to an $80 million forfeiture money judgment, reflecting the immense profits generated by the cartel’s activities.

Operation Take Back America

The guilty plea was announced as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Justice Department initiative aimed at dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) while protecting U.S. communities from violent crime. The operation leverages resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) to target drug trafficking networks and their leaders.

“Today’s guilty plea is another major step toward holding the Sinaloa Cartel and its leaders accountable for their role in fueling the fentanyl epidemic,” said Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. “We remain committed to dismantling the Cartel’s entire fentanyl infrastructure.”

Adam Gordon, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, added, “With each passing day, you are seeing the sunset of the Sinaloa Cartel. Their leaders who remain free are now paranoid, distrusted, and desperate.”

A Victory for Law Enforcement

HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede described the plea as “a real victory for both the United States and Mexico” and a “clear win for the rule of law.” He emphasized the extensive efforts of HSI and partner agencies in securing the guilty verdict, noting the cartel’s role in spreading violence and trafficking deadly drugs and weapons across borders. “No one is beyond the reach of law enforcement,” Rede said.

Ongoing Efforts Against the Chapitos

Guzman Lopez’s three brothers—Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez—also face drug trafficking charges in U.S. indictments. Joaquin Guzman Lopez was arrested in 2024 and remains in U.S. custody, where he has pleaded not guilty to charges in the Northern District of Illinois and awaits trial. Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar remain at large, with warrants issued for their arrests. The U.S. State Department is offering rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to their arrests and convictions.

The charges against the remaining brothers are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A Step Toward Justice

The guilty plea of Ovidio Guzman Lopez represents a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel and its operations. Federal authorities remain steadfast in their mission to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into the United States and to hold accountable those responsible for the violence and devastation caused by the cartel’s activities.

“This case demonstrates the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts,” said Boutros. “Through our partnerships, we will continue to target drug cartels and protect our communities from the harm they inflict