Los Chapitos’ lawyer confirms Joaquín and Ovidio Guzmán are negotiating deal with the United States

The sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán are in negotiations to cooperate with the U.S. justice system. This was confirmed on Monday by the Guzmán family’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, putting an end to weeks of speculation regarding a potential plea deal for Los Chapitos. Lichtman made these revelations during the initial hearing of Ovidio Guzmán, also known as El Ratón, in a Chicago court, following the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, Ovidio’s older brother, at the end of July. Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman has scheduled a joint hearing for both brothers on January 7.

This marks the first time that Lichtman — who represents both brothers — has acknowledged negotiations with authorities. Reports of a potential collaboration by Los Chapitos to betray and expose their former partners in exchange for reduced sentences have gained traction in recent days, especially after Mexican media reported that Joaquín and Ovidio Guzmán were transferred out of prison in recent weeks. Following a brief hearing lasting about 15 minutes, the lawyer clarified to reporters that his clients remain in U.S. custody and attributed the transfers largely to security concerns at the federal prison in Chicago.

El Mayo accused Joaquín “El Güero” Guzmán, his godson, of kidnapping him and turning him over to U.S. security forces in exchange for favorable legal treatment for his brother, who was extradited in September of last year. The January hearing may bring to an end the months of speculation regarding the pact between El Chapo’s sons and the United States. Since September 9, El Mayo and La Chapiza’s men have been engaged in a battle for control of the Sinaloa Cartel. Zambada is currently undergoing his legal proceedings in New York and appeared last Friday before a Brooklyn court, the focal point of the United States’ judicial offensive against Mexican cartels.

Following the publication of El Mayo’s letter in mid-August, attorney Jeffrey Lichtman adamantly and repeatedly denied the possibility of a plea deal. As recently as last Friday, he told the Telemundo television network that no such deal existed. Lichtman, who also represented El Chapo during his 2019 trial, had been cautious in his statements to the media. However, as investigations into El Mayo’s capture have progressed, both the Mexican and U.S. government have suggested that Los Chapitos have for years been secretly negotiating and informally contacting U.S. agencies to arrange their surrender. This is now the most plausible explanation behind Zambada’s arrest and the main line of investigation for Mexican authorities.

The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) has launched an investigation to determine what occurred in Mexico in the hours leading up to El Mayo’s capture at a rural airport near El Paso. In its latest statement, released on Sunday, the FGR confirmed that Héctor Cuén — a former mayor of Culiacán and federal congressman-elect — was killed at the same ranch where Zambada claimed he was kidnapped and tied up by Los Chapitos. The 76-year-old drug lord said he was overpowered after being called to a meeting with Cuén and his main political rival, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya.

Authorities revealed that traces of Héctor Cuén’s blood were found at the crime scene, marking the first material evidence disclosed following the assassination. In a previous statement from late August, the FGR had linked Ovidio Guzmán to El Mayo’s kidnapping and indicated that it was investigating whether Ovidio played a role as one of the masterminds behind the attack on his former partner. However, the latest statement from the FGR did not comment on this allegation. Joaquín Guzmán López remains the FGR’s primary suspect. Moya has denied any link with the drug trafficker.

After weeks of silence, the legal cases against El Mayo and Los Chapitos in the United States are once again intertwined. The Guzmán brothers have been summoned by the judge to appear together for the first time since El Güero surrendered on July 25. Meanwhile, Zambada had his initial hearing in New York with Judge Brian Cogan, the same judge who sentenced El Chapo to life in prison in 2019 and recently handed Genaro García Luna a 38-year sentence. Zambada’s next court date is set for January 15, just a week after El Chapo’s sons will have their next hearing in Illinois. As the web of betrayals unfolds across the border, Sinaloa continues to suffer violence, with nine more murders reported in the state over the past weekend, according to official data.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition