New York, United States
During a hearing scheduled to be held in a Chicago court, the guilty plea is expected to be formalized after months of negotiation with the prosecution.
Ovidio Guzman, 35, is accused of conspiring in a continuing criminal enterprise, importing and distributing fentanyl, laundering money, and using firearms.
His guilty plea will likely result in a far shorter prison term than the life sentence given to his father El Chapo following a high-profile trial held in 2018.
He could offer US authorities “valuable information” about the cartel and its protectors, Mike Vigil, former head of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, told AFP.
Ovidio Guzman gained prominence in October 2019 when Mexican authorities detained him — only to release him later on orders from then president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador amid a standoff between law enforcement and gang members.
Ovidio Guzman was recaptured in January 2023, while Lopez Obrador was still in office, and later extradited to the United States.
US authorities accuse Ovidio and his three brothers of leading Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel designated by the administration of US President Donald Trump as a global “terrorist” organization.
His father, one of the world’s most infamous drug traffickers, is serving a life sentence in a US prison.
The United States alleges Ovidio Guzman and his associates trafficked fentanyl into the country, where the opioid epidemic is linked to tens of thousands of deaths.
The Sinaloa cartel is one of six Mexican drug trafficking groups that Trump has designated as terrorist organizations.
Another son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, was arrested after arriving in the United States last July on a private plane with cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who claimed he had been kidnapped.
The arrests sparked cartel infighting that has left more than 1,200 people dead and 1,400 missing in Sinaloa state, located in northwestern Mexico.
In its aggressive policy against drug cartels, the Trump administration announced additional sanctions against Los Chapitos in June for fentanyl trafficking and increased the reward to $10 million for each of the fugitive brothers.
af-gw/acb/abs/fox
© Agence France-Presse
I’ve been looking for something casual to play in the evenings, nothing too complex or time-consuming. Has anyone found a game that’s actually fun without being overwhelming?
Yeah, I had the same thought a while back and randomly came across jocul plinko. I wasn’t expecting much, but it’s surprisingly addictive — just drop the ball and see where it lands. The best part is they offer solid bonuses for players from Romania, which gave me a decent start. It’s now my go-to when I want to relax without overthinking anything.
I don’t usually write reviews, but Galactic Wins AU really deserves attention. I topped up my balance and already on the second day I caught a nice win. The money came without any problems. The games are interesting and the website design is pleasing to the eye. I can see that the platform has been made with soul — I recommend it wholeheartedly!
I was hosting a virtual birthday party for my sister. I needed a site that was engaging and fun for everyone. Living Sky Casino from Canada caught my eye with its sleek design. The site’s packed with games and offers bonuses like free spins, daily rewards, and special event perks that make every session exciting. Hailing from Canada, it brings a cool vibe, and the promotions are always inviting. It made her birthday unforgettable.