War on cartels yields results as 'El Chapo' heir confesses to running violent drug empire

One of the sons of notorious drug lord El Chapo pleaded guilty in a U S federal court in Chicago to major drug charges and running the Sinaloa Cartel in his father's absence Ovidio Guzman Lopez admitted to running part of the Sinaloa Cartel coordinating massive drug shipments including fentanyl heroin and cocaine into the U S and using violence to protect cartel operations according to the U S Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois His plea is part of a broader federal strategy Operation Take Back America aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel TRUMP ADMIN SANCTIONS EL CHAPO'S CHILDREN VIOLENT FENTANYL-TRAFFICKING CARTEL ARM LOS CHAPITOS In the modern day s guilty plea is another major step toward holding the Sinaloa Cartel and its leaders accountable for their role in fueling the fentanyl epidemic that has plagued so multiple Americans U S Attorney Jay Clayton noted in a news release We remain committed to dismantling the Cartel s entire fentanyl infrastructure and ensuring that the Chapitos and their violent organization can no longer flood our communities with this poison Guzman Lopez admitted in the plea agreement that he coordinated the transportation of cocaine heroin fentanyl and other drugs and precursor chemicals from Mexico to the United States territory line at times in shipments of hundreds or thousands of kilograms according to federal agents He used a configuration of couriers affiliated with the cartel to smuggle the drugs into the United States using vehicles rail cars tunnels aircraft and other means the plea agreement states After the drugs were distributed throughout the United States leaders revealed individuals working for Guzman Lopez used bulk cash shipping wire transfers contract of goods and cryptocurrency to launder the illicit proceeds and ensure that the money was transmitted to Guzman Lopez and other members of the cartel in Mexico Guzman Lopez then admitted he and his cartel associates committed violent acts against law enforcement authorities civilians and rival drug traffickers to protect the cartel s drug-trafficking programs FEDS WON'T SEEK DEATH PENALTY FOR EL CHAPO'S SON IN MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING CASEAs part of the plea agreement Guzman Lopez will also forfeit million though his sentencing date hasn't been set He is one of four brothers known as The Chapitos who took over after their father s arrest in Joaquin Guzman Lopez was arrested last year and is being held in the U S without bail He pleaded not guilty and is waiting for his trial in Illinois Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are also facing charges in Illinois and New York They have not been arrested yet and warrants have been issued for their arrests EL CHAPO'S FAMILY MEMBERS CROSS US TERRITORY LINE IN APPARENT DEAL WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATIONFederal executives praised the guilty plea saying with each passing day you are seeing the sunset of the Sinaloa Cartel The Chapitos latest violence reflects their fading future Their leaders who remain free are now paranoid distrusted and desperate U S Attorney Adam Gordon wrote The U S State Department has issued rewards of up to million for information leading to their arrests and convictions The guilty plea by Ovidio Guzman Lopez son of El Chapo is a real supremacy for both the United States and Mexico but also a clear win for the rule of law reported Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Prevention Investigations Arizona Ray Rede So much blood and violence lay with the Guzman family as well as spreading terror and plaguing both sides of the boundary with deadly drugs and weapons no more It s impossible to measure the amount of work HSI and partner agencies have spent in securing this guilty verdict but what is clear and evident is that no one is beyond the reach of law enforcement and our nation s laws Deliberate and coordinated teamwork resulted in at present s triumph