A son of the infamous drug lord ‘El Chapo’ has entered into plea negotiations with federal prosecutors, several news outlets report. Known as ‘the Mouse,’ Ovidio Guzmán López is accused of playing a major role in steering Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel toward fentanyl production. As Emily’s Hope previously reported, Mexican authorities apprehended him in January, and the U.S. government had requested his extradition.
On Monday, NBC Chicago reports that during a brief court hearing, prosecutors informed the judge that they had begun discussing a possible resolution with Lopez’s counsel, and requested a later court date to allow for those negotiations to continue. Guzman López’s hearing is set for January.
The Sinaloa Cartel was once led by his father, Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán Loera, who was arrested in 2016 and extradited to the U.S. the following year. ‘El Chapo’ is currently serving a life sentence for multiple drug charges and conspiracy to commit murder, following his conviction for his role in running one of the world’s most powerful drug cartels.