Feds Won't Pursue Death Penalty for El Chapo’s Son in Major Drug Trafficking Case
Son of El Chapo, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, faces U.S. drug charges as prosecutors drop death penalty amid fentanyl cartel crackdown.
Federal prosecutors have announced that they will not pursue the death penalty for Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of infamous Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, should he be convicted of drug trafficking charges in the United States. The decision was outlined in a court filing dated May 23 in Chicago, confirming that even if Guzman Lopez is found guilty, the government will not seek a sentence of death.
No additional details were provided regarding the reasoning behind the prosecution's choice to forego capital punishment in this case. Guzman Lopez’s defense attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, expressed satisfaction with the development, stating, “We’re obviously pleased with the result and hope to resolve Joaquin’s charges if possible.”
Guzman Lopez, along with three of his brothers who are collectively known as "Los Chapitos," face U.S. federal indictments on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. The charges center around their alleged leadership roles within the Sinaloa Cartel, following their father's extradition to the United States in 2017. The brothers are believed to have led a powerful faction of the cartel, which authorities identify as a primary exporter of fentanyl to the U.S.—an issue at the heart of the ongoing opioid crisis.
In 2023, prosecutors unsealed expansive indictments against dozens of cartel members, including the Guzman siblings, as part of a major fentanyl-trafficking investigation. The crackdown signaled escalated efforts by U.S. law enforcement to target the supply chain of synthetic opioids flooding across the border.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez was apprehended in July during a dramatic operation in Texas. At the time, he was accompanied by Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, an established leader within the Sinaloa Cartel. According to Zambada, he was abducted by Guzman Lopez, who then transported him via private plane into the United States before turning himself in to authorities. Both men now stand accused of overseeing the trafficking of vast quantities of narcotics into the country, along with perpetrating related acts of violence. Zambada has pleaded not guilty to all charges and, through his attorneys, indicated a willingness to accept a plea deal contingent upon the exclusion of the death penalty.
Meanwhile, "El Chapo" Guzman remains incarcerated at a high-security federal prison in Colorado, serving a life sentence after his own conviction on drug trafficking charges in 2019. The trials of his sons and associates are expected to draw significant attention as U.S. authorities continue efforts to dismantle the upper echelons of Mexico’s most notorious drug syndicate.
Additional reporting contributed by Stephen Sorace, Reuters, and The Associated Press.
