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U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros filed a one-sentence notice Friday
saying he would not seek the death penalty against Joaquin
Guzman Lopez. The notice did not offer any explanation.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez's attorney, listed in online court records
as Jeffrey Lichtman, said in an email to The Associated Press on
Tuesday that he was pleased with the decision “as it's the
correct one."
“Joaquin and I are looking forward to resolving the charges
against him,” Lichtman said.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez's father is Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman,
former leader of the Sinaloa cartel. According to federal
prosecutors, El Chapo smuggled mountains of cocaine and other
drugs into the United States over 25 years. He was convicted in
2019 on multiple conspiracy counts and sentenced to life in a
U.S. prison later that year.
Prosecutors allege Joaquin Guzman Lopez and his brother, Ovidio
Guzman Lopez, ran a faction of the cartel known as the “Chapitos,”
or little Chapos, that has been identified as a main exporter of
fentanyl to the U.S. Prosecutors unsealed sweeping indictments
in 2023 against dozens of members of the Sinaloa cartel,
including the brothers.
Federal authorities arrested Joaquin Guzman Lopez and another
longtime Sinaloa leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, in July in
Texas after they landed in the U.S. on a private plane.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez has been indicted on eight counts,
including money laundering, drug dealing and conspiracy to
distribute drugs. He has pleaded not guilty.
Zambada has said Joaquin Guzman Lopez kidnapped him and brought
him to the U.S. He faces multiple counts in federal court in New
York, including international distribution of cocaine, money
laundering and manufacturing drugs for illegal importation. He
has pleaded not guilty.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez was arrested in Mexico in 2023 and
extradited to the United States. He's charged in federal court
in Chicago with money laundering, drug and firearm offenses. He
has pleaded not guilty but online court records indicate that he
is scheduled to appear in court on July 9 to change his plea as
part of a deal with prosecutors.
Lichtman is also representing Ovidio Guzman Lopez. He declined
in an email to provide any details about an agreement.
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