CHICAGO — In a significant development in the ongoing battle against international drug trafficking, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of the infamous Mexican drug lord known as “El Chapo,” pleaded guilty to charges in the United States on Monday. This comes mere months after his brother, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, also reached a plea agreement.

Joaquin and his brother Ovidio, widely recognized in Mexico as the “Chapitos” or “little Chapos,” have been accused of spearheading a branch of the powerful Sinaloa cartel. In 2023, federal authorities highlighted their operation as a colossal endeavor, responsible for funneling enormous amounts of fentanyl into the United States.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez’s guilty plea pertains to two counts: drug trafficking and engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. These admissions underscore the substantial impact of their cartel activities on the drug landscape in the U.S.

His arrest, alongside another prominent Sinaloa leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, took place in July 2024 after they arrived in Texas via a private jet. Initially, both men had pleaded not guilty to a range of accusations, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses. Their apprehension set off a wave of violence in Mexico’s northern state of Sinaloa, as rival factions within the cartel vied for power.

Under the plea agreement, Joaquin Guzman Lopez acknowledged his role in managing the production and trafficking of substantial quantities of illegal substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl, into the United States. This illicit trade has exacerbated a public health crisis marked by tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year.

His defense attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, commended both U.S. and Mexican authorities.

“The government has been very fair with Joaquin thus far,” he told reporters after the court hearing. “I do appreciate the fact that the Mexican government didn’t interfere.”

In July, Ovidio Guzman Lopez became the first son of drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman to enter a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms charges tied to his leadership role in the cartel. Legal experts called the plea deal a significant step for the US government in their investigation and prosecution of Sinaloa cartel leaders.

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2019 for his role as the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, having smuggled mountains of cocaine and other drugs into the United States over 25 years. The brothers allegedly assumed their father’s former role as leaders of the cartel.