Ovidio Gujman Lopez: Drug Lord ‘L. Chapo’s son’ convicts; Accepts allegations of drug trafficking

Ovidio Gujman Lopez, son of the notorious Mexican Drug Lord “L Chapo”, convicted Friday (local time) for allegations of drug smuggling in the United States. He is the first of L Chapo’s sons to agree with a petition with US prosecutors.Prosecutors say Ovidio and his brother, Joquin Guzman Lopez, led a faction of Sinaloa Cartel, known as “Chapitos” or “Little Chapos”. The authorities described their operations as a major attempt to smuggle huge amounts of fentinyls in the US, contributing to thousands of overdose deaths every year.As part of the plea deal, Ovidio admitted to the production and smuggling of cocaine, heroin, mathefetamine, marijuana and fennel in the US. He also convicted allegations of money laundering and firearms associated with the role of his leadership in Cartel.The specific terms of the agreement, including potential punishment cuts or collaboration agreements, were not immediately disclosed. However, officials said the sentence was delayed as Ovidio collaborated with American officials.His lawyer, Jeffrey Lichman said that he would sentence before discussing whether it was a good deal. Lichman also reported that the case against Ovidio’s brother Joquin is different and it may take longer to resolve.“Remember, Jokin was well arrested in the US after Ovidio, so it takes time,” Lichman said.A law professor at Loyola Law School and former Assistant American Attorney Lawry Leavenson at Los Angeles said Ovidio’s guilty petition would have helped the safety of their family members. “In this way, he has some control of whom he is cooperating against and the world will know about that cooperation.”Levanson described the petition deal for the US government as a “big step”.Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Shinbam on Friday criticized “lack of coordination” in the US policy towards Mexican Cartel. He pointed to a contradiction as foreign terrorist organizations between the American labeling cartel, while the petition with his leaders also dealt with.Ovidio Guzmán López was arrested in Mexico in 2023 and extradited in the United States. He had earlier requested not to be guilty, but in recent months indicated that he would change his petition.His father, Joquin “L Chapo”, is serving a life imprisonment in the US after being convicted in 2019 for leading Sinaloa Cartel in 2019 and being convicted in 2019 for smuggling cocaine and other drugs in the United States for more than 25 years.