Current:Home > ScamsEl Chapo’s son pleads not guilty to narcotics, money laundering and firearms charges -Zenith Investment School
El Chapo’s son pleads not guilty to narcotics, money laundering and firearms charges
View
Date:2025-04-19 00:24:23
A son of the notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other federal charges on Tuesday, just days after he was taken into custody alongside his father's former business partner in an alleged act of betrayal.
In his first court appearance since the arrests last week, Joaquin Guzman Lopez entered the plea at a Chicago federal court and was ordered to remain detained pending trial. Wearing an orange jumpsuits and ankle chains, Guzman Lopez declined an interpreter and answered most questions in the packed courtroom by saying "Yes, your honor" or "No, your honor."
Guzman Lopez along with his three brothers — known as Los Chapitos, or the "little Chapos" — were indicted by a federal grand jury in Illinois on narcotics, money laundering and firearms charges in 2023. Guzman Lopez could face the death penalty if convicted.
The four sons of El Chapo became key figures in Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel in recent years after their father was extradited to the United States in 2017 and incarcerated in 2019. Guzman Lopez and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia, the co-founder and longtime leader of the cartel, were arrested last Thursday by federal authorities at a small airport in New Mexico near El Paso, Texas.
They face multiple charges for leading the criminal operations of what is considered to be the world’s most powerful organized crime organization. Zambada briefly appeared in federal court in El Paso last Friday and pleaded not guilty to seven charges, the El Paso Times, part of the USA TODAY network, reported.
In the days since the arrests, Zambada's lawyer has alleged that Guzman Lopez kidnapped the drug lord as part of a deal to negotiate a better plea agreement with U.S. authorities. Mexican authorities have opened an investigation into the accusations.
Poisons in paradise:How Mexican cartels target Hawaii with meth, fentanyl
Joaquin Guzman Lopez accused of betraying 'El Mayo'
Last week, U.S. officials said Zambada and Guzman Lopez were taken into custody in El Paso, Texas. Officials familiar with situation told Reuters that Guzman Lopez had tricked Zambada into boarding a private plane, saying they were going to check out real estate in northern Mexico.
Instead, the plane transported both the men to a small airport in New Mexico near the U.S.-Mexico border, where Guzman Lopez had planned to surrender but Zambada had not.
Criminal defense lawyer Frank Perez previously told USA TODAY that his client, Zambada, did not get on the plane of his own accord.
"My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government," Perez said in a statement given exclusively to USA TODAY. "Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin."
When asked about the allegations after court on Tuesday, Guzman Lopez's lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman said authorities have not accused his client of kidnapping.
"When the government accuses him, then I'll take notice," Lichtman told reporters. "When lawyers who are trying to score points with the media make accusations ... doesn't move the ball forward."
History of Sinaloa Cartel
The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the world's most powerful drug cartels and is largely responsible for the trafficking of several illicit drugs — including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl — into the United States. Founded in the late 1980s, the crime organization was led by El Chapo and Zambada for decades.
El Chapo captured public attention as Mexico's most infamous cartel leader and gained further notoriety for his two successful prison escapes from maximum-security prisons in Mexico. Current and former federal authorities have called Zambada the "brains" and El Chapo's son the "muscle" of the cartel, who widened the organization's reach as one of the biggest exporters of fentanyl.
The cartel has been blamed for its role in the ongoing Mexican drug war that has contributed to tens of thousands of homicides in the country each year. U.S. authorities have also attributed the country's drug crisis to the cartel.
Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The drug has "fueled the opioid epidemic that has been ravaging families and communities" across the country, the Justice Department said.
"The Sinaloa Cartel pioneered the manufacture of fentanyl and has for years trafficked it into our country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans and devastating countless communities," Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
Contributing: Lauren Villagran and Josh Meyer, USA TODAY; Reuters
veryGood! (59922)
Related
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- How Google's huge defeat in antitrust case could change how you search the internet
- British Olympian Harry Charles Is Dating Steve Jobs' Daughter Eve Jobs
- Save 75% on Lands' End, 70% on Kate Spade, 60% on Beyond Yoga, 60% on Wayfair & Today's Best Deals
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Buca di Beppo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after closing several locations
- 911 operator calmly walks expectant mom through a surprise at-home delivery
- Fighting for the Native Forest of the Gran Chaco in Argentina
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Nick Cannon Confirms He “Absolutely” Would Get Back With Mariah Carey
Ranking
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Video shows the Buffalo tornado that broke New York's record as the 26th this year
- Who is Tim Walz? Things to know about Kamala Harris’ choice for vice president
- Social media pays tribute to the viral Montgomery brawl on one year anniversary
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Sam Kendricks wins silver in pole vault despite bloody, punctured hand
- Mondo Duplantis sets pole vault world record on final attempt - after already winning gold
- Texas trooper gets job back in Uvalde after suspension from botched police response to 2022 shooting
Recommendation
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Who is Warren Buffett? Why investors are looking to the 'Oracle of Omaha' this week
SEC, Big Ten domination headlines US LBM Coaches Poll winners and losers
Army offering $10K reward for information on missing 19-year-old pregnant woman
Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
American discus thrower Valarie Allman makes it back to back gold medals at Paris Games
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's Daughter Lucie Shares Rare Photo With Brother Desi Jr.
Haunting Secrets About The Sixth Sense You Won't Be Able to Unsee