New York, Oct 21 (EFE).- Brothers Ovidio and Joaquín Guzmán, sons of Mexican drug lord “El Chapo” Guzmán, accused of drug trafficking, are in talks with the United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago for a possible plea deal, their lawyer confirmed Monday.
An agreement between the two brothers, also known as “Los Chapitos,” and the US attorney’s office would involve pleading guilty and cooperating with authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Ovidio Guzmán, known as “El Ratón,” was extradited to the US in September 2023 and attended a hearing in federal court in Chicago on Monday as part of the proceedings against him.
On July 23, two days before his brother Joaquín arrived in the country accompanied by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel along with their father, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, his name disappeared from the list of federal prisoners; shortly after, US authorities confirmed that he was still in custody.
On Monday, it was confirmed that he and his younger brother were negotiating a plea deal.
Prosecutor Andrew Erskine told Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman that the two sides were in preliminary talks to settle the case before trial and that they hoped to have more information about a possible deal at the next hearing in January, according to media reports.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman acknowledged for the first time that the Chapitos, who lead the Sinaloa cartel following the arrest and conviction of their father in the US, are in talks with the Attorney’s Office.
Ovidio Guzmán, 34, is charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, participation in a criminal enterprise, exporting narcotics to the United States, financial transactions involving the proceeds of illegal activities, and unlawful use and possession of firearms, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
His brother Joaquín, 38, was charged with drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons violations, to which he also pleaded not guilty.
Although, it was not established that the Chapitos cases would be prosecuted as one, the judge summoned the brothers together for the next hearing, set for Jan. 7 at 11:00 a.m. EFE.
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