Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of the notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, pleaded guilty on Monday in a Chicago court. He admitted to serious drug trafficking crimes. In return, US prosecutors may reduce his punishment if he cooperates fully.

Earlier, in July 2024, he had pleaded not guilty after his arrest in Texas. Now, he has reversed that decision. Court documents confirm that he has accepted responsibility for his role in criminal activities linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

Under the plea agreement, the judge may choose not to give him life imprisonment. However, this depends on how much help he provides to investigators.

“Defendant understands that the decision to depart from the applicable guideline sentence…the mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment, rests solely with the Court,” the filing said.

He will be sentenced at a later date. In addition, the court has ordered him to pay $80 million, which represents money earned from illegal activities.

His Brother Also Accepted Guilt

His brother, Ovidio Guzman, made a similar deal in July 2025. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and to being part of a continuing criminal enterprise. He also admitted that he and his brothers, called “Los Chapitos,” took control of their father’s cartel operations.

Their father, El Chapo, is 68 years old and is serving a life sentence in a high-security US prison in Colorado. He was arrested in 2016 and convicted in 2019.

The plea document added, “Based upon facts now known to the government, defendant has clearly demonstrated a recognition and affirmative acceptance of personal responsibility for his criminal conduct.”

Massive Drug Operations Revealed

According to court filings, Joaquin Guzman Lopez helped move “hundreds or thousands of kilograms” of illegal drugs. These included cocaine, heroin, meth, and marijuana. These drugs were shipped from Mexico into the United States.

Arrest Triggered Violence in Mexico

In July 2024, he was arrested after landing in Texas on a private plane. He was travelling with Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, one of the founders of the Sinaloa cartel.

However, Zambada later claimed that Guzman Lopez tricked him and forced him onto the plane, saying he was “abducted” and handed over to US authorities against his will.

After their arrests, violent clashes broke out between rival groups inside the cartel. These factions were mainly led by the Guzman brothers and Zambada’s supporters.

The fighting caused around 1,200 deaths and nearly 1,400 disappearances in Mexico, according to official data.

US Steps Up Its War on Drug Cartels

The United States has blamed the Sinaloa cartel for sending fentanyl into the country. This drug has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in recent years. These accusations have also increased tensions between Washington and Mexico City.

The Sinaloa cartel is now one of six Mexican criminal groups that US President Donald Trump has officially labelled as global terrorist organizations.

In June, the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on “Los Chapitos.” It also raised the reward money to $10 million for each of the brothers who are still on the run.

The two remaining brothers — Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar — have also been charged with drug crimes in the United States. They are still at large.