Federal prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty against Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of infamous drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, if he is convicted on multiple charges in Chicago. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros filed a brief notice stating this decision without elaboration. Guzman Lopez’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, expressed satisfaction with the choice, considering it the correct one, and stated they are looking forward to addressing the charges against his client.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez is associated with the Sinaloa cartel, once led by his father, who was imprisoned for life after a 2019 conviction for extensive drug smuggling activities over 25 years. Guzman Lopez and his brother Ovidio are alleged to have operated a faction called the “Chapitos,” primarily recognized for exporting fentanyl to the U.S. In 2023, prosecutors issued significant indictments against various cartel members, including the Guzman brothers.
Joaquin was arrested in July 2023 alongside a senior cartel figure on a private jet in Texas. He faces eight charges, including money laundering and drug trafficking, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, Ovidio Guzman Lopez was captured in Mexico and is also fighting multiple charges in the U.S., including weapons and drug-related offenses. He is expected to change his plea as part of a potential plea agreement, and both brothers are represented by Lichtman, who has not disclosed details about any plea deals. The case underscores ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking in the U.S.
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