Son of 'El Chapo' to plead guilty in U.S. drug trafficking case
Prosecutors allege Ovidio Guzman Lopez, along with his brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, ran a faction of the cartel known as the "Chapitos," or little Chapos, that exported fentanyl to the United States.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez's father is Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel who smuggled mountains of cocaine and other drugs into the United States over 25 years.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez was arrested in Mexico in 2023 and extradited to the United States. He was charged in federal court in Chicago with money laundering, drug and firearm offenses.
He previously pleaded not guilty, but online court records indicate he is scheduled to appear in court on July 9 to change his plea as part of a deal with prosecutors. Court documents filed Tuesday indicate he intends to plead guilty after word of a possible deal was disclosed during an October hearing.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez would be the first of the brothers to enter a plea deal.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez is also in U.S. custody. He and another longtime Sinaloa leader, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, were arrested in July in Texas after they landed in the U.S. on a private plane. Joaquin Guzman Lopez has pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, drug dealing and conspiracy to distribute drugs. Zambada also pleaded not guilty.
The men's dramatic capture prompted a surge in violence in Mexico's northern state of Sinaloa as two factions of the Sinaloa cartel clashed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
15 hours ago
- Wales Online
Paedophile runs from questions after trying to get court order dropped
Paedophile runs from questions after trying to get court order dropped Paul Buckland claimed the restriction was preventing him from accepting a promotion at work A paedophile tried to get a court order lifted after being offered a promotion. Paul Buckland, from Cardiff, was handed a sexual offences prevention order in 2011 after he admitted a long list of crimes involving horrific child abuse images – but this week he appeared in court to argue the restriction should be dropped because he needed unbridled internet access to "become a supervisor" at work. The 45-year-old's bid to get the order discharged went awry when a Cardiff Magistrates' Court judge informed him he was also under a second order – imposed in 2016 because he had failed to comply with the first one. Realising he would need to overturn not just one but two restrictions Buckland withdrew his application and said he would seek further legal advice. In 2011 he pleaded guilty at Cardiff Magistrates' Court to 17 counts of making an indecent photo of a child and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image of a person "performing oral sex with a horse". Paul Buckland leaves Cardiff Magistrates' Court (Image: Conor Gogarty ) The titles of the files referred to an eight-year-old "Mexican girl", a 10-year-old "girl from Russia", and a "preteen 12-year-old Lolita". They also included the words "pedo" [sic], "childlover", and descriptions of grotesque sex acts. At the time the court imposed 35 days of sex offender treatment and a sexual offences prevention order. It states Buckland must not use a computer unless it has software to prevent access to child abuse images. The order also bars him from using a mobile phone with internet access. Article continues below However it does include exceptions for using a computer at work or while under supervision so it is not clear why Buckland felt it was holding him back from taking a promotion. His recent application called for the order to be removed on the grounds that "he has been in full-time employment for 18 months and he has been asked by employers to train to become a supervisor for which he will require internet access". This week, when a suited Buckland appeared at the magistrates' court, the prosecutor Nicholas Evans pointed out he had failed to consider that he was also under a sexual harm prevention order imposed in 2016 by Cardiff Crown Court. That order was handed down because he had breached the 2011 restriction by using the internet without software to prevent him accessing illicit material. Paul Buckland leaves Cardiff Magistrates' Court (Image: Conor Gogarty ) Mr Evans said there were "concerns" over Buckland's application not only because of his 2011 and 2016 convictions but also a 2020 caution for breaching a notification requirement. District Judge Rhys Williams noted that the 2011 and 2016 orders were "virtually identical" and that there appeared to be "some confusion" on Buckland's part over how many orders he was under. The judge told Buckland the 2016 order could not be discharged by the magistrates' court because it was made by a higher court. Buckland, of Penlline Street in Roath, was advised he would have to make an application to Cardiff Crown Court if he wanted a judge to consider discharging that order. He replied: "I think I'll withdraw my application and get more advice." As Buckland left court we asked him if he would be putting an application to the crown court. You can watch footage of him fleeing our questions at the top of this page. Article continues below
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr to be deported after arrest days after Jake Paul loss
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr has been arrested just days after losing to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and faces being deported from the US Jake Paul 's recent opponent, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, has been arrested and is now facing deportation from the US. The rivals squared off last weekend in a cruiserweight clash in Anaheim, where Paul swiftly took charge, piling on the pressure from the get-go. Chavez Jr, once a middleweight world champion, struggled to get a real foothold of the contest and barely threw anything back at the American. In the final two rounds of the dust-up, Chavez Jr started to find his feet, but it was a case of too little, too late, with Paul securing the victory by points. Just days after their showdown, Chavez Jr found himself arrested for a warrant in Mexico. The 39-year-old is rumoured to have cartel ties and faces charges of organised crime and arms trafficking. He is currently being processed after being taken into custody in the Los Angeles area. "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained prominent Mexican boxer and criminal illegal alien Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and is processing him for expedited removal from the United States," declared the agency, reports All Out Fighting. "Chavez is a Mexican citizen who has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organised crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives." Chavez Jr, the son of boxing icon Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, hails from Sinaloa, Mexico. He kicked off his professional boxing career in September 2002 and has since faced opponents such as Canelo Alvarez, Daniel Jacobs, Anderson Silva and Andy Lee. According to US officials, Chavez Jr entered the country in August 2023 on a B2 tourist visa that was valid until February 2024. The 39-year-old applied for Lawful Permanent Resident status last year due to his marriage to a US citizen - but the department alleged they had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel through a previous relationship with the now-deceased son of notorious cartel leader Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. It alleged fraudulent statements were made on his application to become a resident. "This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE," stated DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "It is shocking the previous administration flagged this criminal illegal alien as a public safety threat, but chose to not prioritise his removal and let him leave and come back into our country. Under President Trump, no one is above the law—including world-famous athletes. Our message to any cartel affiliates in the U.S. is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over." The Mexican boxer has been detained by US authorities on multiple charges, including illegal possession of an assault weapon for which he was convicted in January 2024. Previously, he faced an arrest warrant for allegedly trafficking weapons for a criminal organisation. Michael Goldstein, representing Chavez Jr, has fiercely defended his client against the allegations, telling Sports Illustrated they are "outrageous" and constitute "a brazen act designed to terrorise the community." He also highlighted the distress caused to Chavez Jr's family, who were left in the dark about his whereabouts after more than two dozen ICE and other law enforcement agents arrested the ex-world champion. According to Goldstein's statement to SI: "Mr. Chavez is not a threat to the community. In fact, he is a public figure and has been living out in the open and just fought Jake Paul in a televised boxing match before millions of viewers. His workouts were open to the public and afforded law enforcement countless opportunities to contact him if he was indeed a public threat. The truth is, he has been focused on his own personal growth, family and mental health."
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. detained by ICE, faces removal from U.S.
Chavez, the son of legendary Mexican fighter Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., fought Jake Paul Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. He lost the 10-round boxing match by unanimous decision. In August 2023, he entered the country legally with a B2 tourist visa that was valid until February 2024. In January 2024, Chavez was arrested in Los Angeles on charges of felony gun possession charges after police said they found him in possession of two AR-style ghost rifles, according to ESPN and the Los Angeles Times. He pleaded not guilty to the gun possession charges and agreed to enter residential treatment program, according to those reports. Court records indicate Chavez was granted pretrial diversion. In its press released, DHS stated former President Joe Biden's administration allowed Chavez to reenter the country in January and paroled him into the country at the San Ysidro port of entry in California. This is a developing story.
