El Chapo’s Son Denies Allegations Against Lopez
Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of infamous Mexican drug cartel leader “El Chapo” Joaquin Guzman, recently appeared before a judge in federal court in Chicago after being detained in Texas alongside Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as “El Mayo”, a co-founder of the Sinaloa drug cartel. Lopez, wearing the standard orange prisoner’s robe but not handcuffed, denied charges of drug smuggling and money laundering during the hearing in which he only answered with short “yes” and “no” responses.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman ordered that Lopez be held in custody during the brief 10-minute hearing, with the next court date set for September 30. While specific details about the circumstances leading to Lopez’s arrest are still unclear, it is believed that he could potentially face the death penalty if convicted.
The arrest of Lopez, which took place on July 25, was announced by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, along with the detention of Ismael Zambada Garcia. Ovidio Guzman, one of Lopez’s brothers, was extradited to the U.S. from Mexico in 2023 and has denied drug trafficking charges. The other two brothers, Ivan Guzman Salazar and Alfredo Guzman Salazar, are currently fugitives. U.S. officials have stated that the four brothers have been involved in reviving their father’s notorious drug empire.
“El Chapo” Joaquin Guzman himself was sentenced to life in prison in a New York court in July of the previous year. Guzman, who had previously escaped from two high-security prisons in Mexico, was finally captured in January 2016 and extradited to the United States. The Guzman family’s connections to the Sinaloa drug cartel continue to be a focal point in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and organized crime.
