Ovidio Guzmán will plead guilty to drug trafficking in the U.S.

Ovidio Guzmán López, known as "El Ratón," has decided to accept the inevitable: he will plead guilty in a U.S. court to multiple drug trafficking charges, in what represents a crucial turn for the most emblematic case involving the new generation of the Sinaloa Cartel .

The document filed by the U.S. Department of Justice indicates that the hearing scheduled for May was canceled, and a new date was set for July. At that time, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán 's son will officially plead guilty in the Northern District of Illinois, where he faces five federal charges.

The case file clearly indicates that Ovidio Guzmán has opted to forgo the trial , possibly as part of a cooperation agreement or a strategy to obtain a reduced sentence. The prosecution must submit the plea agreement to the court at least three days before the new hearing.

This step marks the end of one stage and the beginning of another: that of formal criminal consequences for the man who was one of the most visible faces of the Los Chapitos faction, an organization that inherited criminal power after the arrest and extradition of his father.

Born into one of the most feared organized crime families, Ovidio is not only the son of El Chapo , but also a key figure in the current drug trafficking network in the Western Hemisphere. For years, he operated alongside his brothers Iván Archivaldo and Alfredo Guzmán Salazar , who are currently fugitives in Mexico.

With them, Ovidio is part of the Los Chapitos group, a violent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel accused of maintaining a transnational network of drug and arms trafficking, money laundering, and criminal terrorism. The charges he faces reflect precisely that structure:

• Possession of drugs with intent to distribute
• Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
• Money laundering
• Participation in a continuing criminal enterprise
• Illegal possession of firearms

Beyond the immediate impact on his personal case, Ovidio Guzmán's guilty plea represents a judicial victory for the United States , which has sought for years to dismantle the upper echelons of Mexican drug trafficking.

Furthermore, it could open the door to strategic information about other members of Los Chapitos , and even about the Sinaloa Cartel's financial and logistical network. It has not been ruled out that part of the agreement could include Ovidio's collaboration with authorities.

Another significant sign is that he no longer appears to be in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons , suggesting a possible relocation for security reasons, or his transfer to a special detention center in preparation for the hearing.

While Ovidio faces justice, his brothers, Iván Archivaldo and Alfredo, continue to operate from Mexico. Both are considered perpetrators of violence in Sinaloa and other regions of the country and are wanted by agencies such as the DEA and the FBI.

Ovidio's possible collaboration with authorities could generate internal tensions within the organization and fragmentation within the cartel's structure. This would not only affect the chain of command but also the territorial stability of Sinaloa, where Los Chapitos are engaged in clashes with other factions such as the Mayo Zambada.

The figure of Ovidio Guzmán is also fraught with symbolism. His capture, release, and subsequent recapture sparked national and international controversy. The first time he was arrested, the Mexican government released him after a day of violence known as the "Culiacanazo." After his second capture, he was extradited without further incident.

His fate is sealed, but that of the organization he helped lead remains to be written.

Ovidio Guzmán's guilty plea could mark the beginning of the legal collapse of one of the world's most powerful criminal structures. With his father serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison and himself now accepting responsibility, the pressure will be on the other fugitive brothers.

The case has implications beyond drug trafficking: it reflects the complex relationship between Mexico and the U.S. in terms of security , the power of criminal organizations, and the ability of the U.S. judicial system to deliver justice, even to the most notorious criminals.