Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, has pleaded guilty to serious drug trafficking charges in a U.S. court, in exchange for a lighter sentence.
The 34-year-old, known by his nickname “El Ratón” (The Mouse), admitted to leading a major drug operation linked to the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, which was once controlled by his father. His plea was entered on Friday, July 11, 2025, in a federal courtroom in Chicago.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of drug conspiracy and two counts of running a criminal enterprise. Prosecutors revealed that Guzman Lopez played a key role in trafficking large quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs from Mexico into the United States.
According to U.S. officials, the plea deal was reached after months of negotiations and includes Guzman Lopez’s full cooperation with investigators. In return, the prosecution will recommend a reduced sentence. His official sentencing date has not yet been set by District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman.
“This guilty plea sends a crystal-clear message that this administration will shut down and hold accountable transnational criminal organizations and their top leaders,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.
Guzman Lopez is one of the four sons of El Chapo who inherited control of part of the Sinaloa Cartel after their father was arrested in 2016 and later sentenced to life in prison in the United States in 2019.
Together, the four brothers—Ovidio, Ivan Archivaldo, Jesus Alfredo, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez—are known as “Los Chapitos” and have been heavily involved in the global drug trade. U.S. authorities have indicted all of them on trafficking charges. However, only Ovidio and Joaquin Guzman Lopez have been arrested so far. The other two remain fugitives.
Ovidio first gained public attention in October 2019 when he was briefly arrested by Mexican forces but later released under pressure from cartel gunmen in a violent standoff. He was re-arrested in January 2023 and later extradited to the U.S.
The Sinaloa Cartel is considered one of the most powerful and dangerous drug trafficking groups in the world. According to U.S. authorities, it has also been responsible for a deadly wave of fentanyl smuggling into American cities.
The group has been classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government, and in June 2025, the Biden administration imposed fresh sanctions on Los Chapitos and offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of each of the two remaining brothers.
Drug violence tied to the cartel’s internal fights has reportedly left more than 1,200 people dead and 1,400 missing in Mexico’s Sinaloa state over the past year alone, according to human rights organizations.
Mike Vigil, a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) official, said Guzman Lopez’s cooperation could offer “valuable insight into the inner workings of the cartel and its political protectors.”
