Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera and a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to drug conspiracy and engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. The charges relate to his role in trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana into the United States.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “The Sinaloa Cartel is a terrorist organization that has spent decades destroying American families through brutal violence and deadly drug trafficking. Yesterday’s guilty plea from El Chapo’s son is a major victory against the Sinaloa Cartel and underscores the Trump Administration’s historic, aggressive campaign to dismantle terrorist organizations that target the American people.”
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole commented on the impact of cartel leadership: “Under the Chapitos’ leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel has fueled the deadliest drug crisis in our nation’s history, manufacturing poison and profiting from the destruction of American lives. DEA stands committed to dismantle Sinaloa Cartel’s command and control, expose their criminal networks, and deliver justice for the hundreds of thousands of lives lost to their greed. Joaquin Guzmán Lopez’s guilty plea marks another blow to the cartel’s ruthless operations. We will not stop until these narco-terrorists are held accountable and the American people are protected."
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti described Guzman Lopez as having taken over leadership with his brothers after their father’s conviction: “After the United States successfully prosecuted El Chapo, his son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, took up his father’s mantle and jointly led the ‘Los Chapitos’ faction of the Sinaloa Cartel — one of the world’s most notorious drug trafficking organizations — in its efforts to flood the United States with deadly fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Under the leadership of Guzman Lopez and his associates, the Sinaloa Cartel spread violence and bribed public officials to protect its illicit business. The Criminal Division and our partners will not rest until we have fully dismantled the criminal cartels whose ruthless violence and lethal narcotics distribution threaten the safety and health of the American people.”
U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for Northern District of Illinois noted ongoing efforts: “For decades, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has been at the forefront of the U.S. government’s relentless pursuit of drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, as well as their top leaders. Yesterday, because of this Administration’s leadership, the U.S. State Department has designated many of these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations — a fact that has only further stiffened our resolve to track down and hold accountable transnational criminal organizations and their highest-ranking members and associates. Joaquin Guzman Lopez’s guilty plea is the latest step in our efforts to bring to justice drug lords and other dangerous criminals who poison the American public with illegal and harmful drugs and who otherwise engage in violence and corruption to carry out their and their enterprises’ wide-reaching criminal activities.”
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for Southern District of California said simply: “Two down, two to go.”
Acting Assistant Director Gregory Heeb from FBI's Criminal Investigative Division emphasized ongoing priorities: “The Guzman’s have made a family business out of trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. Protecting Americans from the Sinaloa and other criminal cartels terrorizing and poisoning our communities is one of the FBI’s highest priorities and we will continue to work relentlessly to dismantle and disrupt these dangerous international criminal networks.”
Ray Rede from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona highlighted interagency cooperation: “Yesterday’s guilty plea by Joaquin Guzman Lopez is another example of how HSI is taking on the cartels and their transnational criminal networks... Dismantling the Sinaloa cartel one arrest at time has taken countless hours but together HSI and our federal partners in the Homeland Security Task Force relentlessly focused efforts to stop this transnational criminal organization scourge by removing leaders from the helm... Yesterday’s announcement exemplifies a whole-of-government approach to protecting our homeland that is yielding results.”
Guzman Lopez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum possible life sentence; no sentencing date has been set yet. He has been detained since July 2024.
Alongside his brothers—known collectively as "the Chapitos"—Guzman Lopez managed smuggling operations using various methods including vehicles, tunnels, rail cars, aircrafts, submersibles; proceeds were laundered back into Mexico through cartel operatives who also engaged in bribery or violence against law enforcement or rivals.
He also admitted involvement in an international kidnapping offense but will not receive cooperation credit for it under terms specified by prosecutors.
As part of his plea agreement he accepted an $80 million personal money judgment reflecting proceeds traceable to his offenses.
His three brothers—Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar (both fugitives), Ovidio Guzman Lopez (awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty)—are also charged with related crimes across multiple U.S. jurisdictions; rewards up to $10 million have been offered for information leading to arrests or convictions via State Department notices (see reward information here https://www.state.gov/joaquin-guzman-lopez/ and here https://www.state.gov/jesus-alfredo-guzman-salazar/).
Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich (Justice Department Money Laundering/Narcotics/Forfeiture Section), Assistant U.S Attorneys Andrew Erskine/Michelle Parthum/Michael Maione (Northern District Illinois), Matthew Sutton/Robert Miller (Southern District California) are prosecuting; HSI/FBI led investigations.
This prosecution was announced under Operation Take Back America—a Department-wide initiative aiming at eliminating cartels/transnational crime organizations through coordinated resources such as those from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs).
All charges against Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar remain allegations; they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
