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Joaquin Guzman Lopez, leader of Sinaloa Cartel and the son of Joaquin Guzman Loera, AKA El Chapo, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in Chicago on Tuesday. As part of his plea deal, Lopez revealed how Ismael Zambada, AKA El Mayo, one of the Sinaloa cartel’s leaders, was abducted and turned over to the U.S. government.
Guzman Lopez, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy and one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
He and his three brothers, known as “the Chapitos,” assumed leadership roles of the Sinaloa Cartel following El Chapo’s arrest in 2016. In those roles, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) stated, they “coordinated the transportation of drugs and precursor chemicals for the manufacture of drugs into Mexico, and the transportation of those drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.”
The DOJ said they “used a network of couriers affiliated with the cartel to smuggle the drugs into the United States using vehicles, rail cars, tunnels, aircraft, submersible vessels, and other means.” They also “laundered and transferred the illicit proceeds from the United States to Mexico and elsewhere.”
In addition to all of that, the DOJ stated “Guzman Lopez and his associates bribed corrupt public officials and perpetrated violence against law enforcement officials, rival drug traffickers, and members of their own drug trafficking organization.”
Joaquin Guzman Lopez may avoid life in prison
As part of his plea, Guzman Lopez admitted to coordinating and committing an international kidnapping offense with “the hopes of receiving cooperation credit from the United States.” However, it was noted in the plea agreement that “the United States did not induce or condone the kidnapping, and Guzman Lopez will not receive any cooperation credit for it.”
NPR reports Joaquin Guzman Lopez was responsible for the abduction and subsequent arrest of El Mayo. He and his associates seized El Mayo, put a bag over his head and loaded him onto a plane. He was then given a drink containing sedatives and taken across the border to the United States. While the plea agreement did not name Zambada specifically, a letter from El Mayo explained that he had been called to a meeting with Guzman Lopez and was abducted.
Strangely, Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office said it was considering bringing treason charges against Guzman Lopez and others who participated in the abduction. Mexico’s President at the time, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, believed the U.S. government was behind the operation. Experts also thought it was highly unlikely that U.S. authorities had no advanced knowledge of the abduction.
By accepting the plea deal, Joaquin Guzman Lopez is expected to avoid life in prison. In addition to whatever prison time he receives, Guzman Lopez also had to surrender $80 million – the proceeds traceable to his offenses.
As for some of the rest of his family, El Chapo’s wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, has returned to modeling, and his daughter, Frida Sofia Guzman Munoz, has been traveling the world.