El Chapo’s son pleads guilty in US drug case, cuts deal with prosecutors

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Elizabeth MelimopoulosDecember 2, 2025 at 03:56 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of "El Chapo" Guzman, pleaded guilty in a Chicago court on December 2, 2025, to drug trafficking and organized crime charges related to his involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel. Guzman Lopez, initially pleading not guilty after his arrest last year, admitted to advancing the cartel's operations through bribery and violence. As part of a plea deal, he will cooperate with US prosecutors, pay an $80 million charge, and avoid a potential life sentence, though he still faces a minimum of 10 years in prison. The agreement also stipulates that Guzman Lopez cannot appeal his sentence. He and his brothers are known as the "Chapitos" in Mexico.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States ×360% Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada ×270% El Chapo ×380% Joaquin Guzman Lopez ×5100%

Keywords

drug trafficking 100% sinaloa cartel 90% plea deal 80% joaquin guzman lopez 80% el chapo 70% us prosecutors 60% organized crime 50% extradition 40% ismael ‘el mayo’ zambada 40%