Son of ‘El Chapo’ Pleads Guilty in US Court and Agrees to Cooperate with Prosecutors Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the sons of imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, changed his plea to guilty on Monday in a Chicago federal courtroom. The 38-year-old admitted to two counts of drug trafficking and leading a continuing criminal enterprise as part of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, the organization his father once headed. Appearing in an orange prison jumpsuit, Guzman Lopez confirmed to the judge that his occupation had been “drug trafficking,” prompting a brief moment of surprise in the courtroom. Under the plea agreement, he will cooperate with U.S. authorities, forfeit $80 million in criminal proceeds, and faces a minimum of 10 years in prison instead of a possible life sentence. Sentencing will take place at a later date, and he has waived his right to appeal. His lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, described the deal as fair and thanked Mexican authorities for not interfering in the process. Guzman Lopez is one of the four brothers known as the “Chapitos” who took over a major faction of the cartel after their father’s extradition to the U.S. in 2017. Another brother, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, pleaded guilty earlier this year and also faces significant prison time. Court documents state that Guzman Lopez and his siblings used bribery, firearms, and violence against rivals, law enforcement, and even members of their own group to protect and expand the cartel’s operations, including the large-scale trafficking of fentanyl into the United States. The case gained attention last year when Guzman Lopez arrived in the U.S. on a private plane alongside veteran Sinaloa leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. In his plea, Guzman Lopez admitted to orchestrating Zambada’s forcible removal from Mexico — an action prosecutors said was not authorized by U.S. authorities and will not count toward sentencing credit for cooperation. The development is seen as a significant win for U.S. efforts to dismantle leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most influential drug trafficking organizations.