The son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, Ovidio Guzmán López, known as "El Ratón", will appear on July 9, 2025 before the Northern District of Illinois court for a change of guilty plea.
An official notice signed by Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman confirms this, canceling the hearing scheduled for May 12.
The agreement with the prosecution is confirmed
According to the court minutes, the U.S. government must present to the court a copy of the plea agreement at least three days before the July 9 hearing, confirming the existence of a possible cooperation or plea negotiation between Guzmán López and the federal authorities.
This type of agreement is common in high-profile cases and usually involves the defendant's cooperation in exchange for a reduced sentence or the provision of relevant information for dismantling criminal networks.
From silence to agreement
Ovidio Guzmán was extradited to the United States in September 2023, following his capture in Culiacán during a federal operation that left dozens dead and injured.
Since his arrival in the country, he had pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, criminal conspiracy, and fentanyl distribution.
The decision to change his plea marks a significant shift in his defense and could represent a severe blow to the Sinaloa Cartel's structure, especially for the group known as "Los Chapitos," which he leads with his brothers.
The document also indicates that the time until July 9 will be excluded from the trial computation under the United States Code, which is common in these processes when negotiating a plea agreement.
International implications
Ovidio Guzmán's case is closely followed by both the Mexican government and international agencies. His cooperation with the U.S. could reveal critical information about the structure, routes, and operations of drug trafficking in Mexico and other countries, as well as possible links with officials and corruption networks.
