Appearance of Ovidio Guzman: El Chapo's son pleads not guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges

Last Friday, the Department of Justice confirmed the extradition of drug trafficker Ovidio Guzmán, youngest son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, to the United States. He faces criminal cases in three districts: one in the District of Columbia, one in northern Illinois and a third in southern New York. He is accused of several crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal possession of weapons. Authorities have also detailed that the criminal organization he led is listed as one of the most powerful in the world.

"This action is the most recent step in the Justice Department's effort to attack every aspect of the cartel's operations," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement confirming the extradition.

After a brief 14-minute hearing, Ovidio Guzmán pleaded "not guilty" through a translator to the five money laundering and drug trafficking charges he faces, according to the AP.

El Chapo's son is also accused of crimes such as illegal possession of firearms and being part of a criminal organization. Several of the crimes carry a life sentence.

Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman, who defended "Chapo" Guzmán, is now in charge of representing the famous drug trafficker's son.

Ovidio Guzmán, also known as "El Ratón," is one of four children from El Chapo's relationship with his second wife, Griselda Lopez Perez. According to the BBC, it is estimated that El Chapo has at least 10 children from his various marriages. Since 2018, El Ratón has been accused by the Department of Justice of conspiracy to distribute drugs to be imported into the United States, along with his brother Joaquín Guzmán López. The department said it has records of the crimes since at least 2008.

"He controlled extensive operations covering the fentanyl trade"

In April, his name again appeared in indictments from U.S. authorities. He was indicted on federal charges along with two of his brothers (Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar and Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, known as the "Chapitos") and 25 other alleged members of the Sinaloa cartel as part of a sprawling fentanyl trafficking investigation. In addition, El Ratón became the leader of the Sinaloa cartel after his father was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking in the United States.

"The indictments being unsealed today demonstrate that the Sinaloa Cartel has been engaged in drug trafficking activities into the United States, and violence, spanning over a decade and a half. The Chapitos are alleged to have repeatedly and consistently transported lethal amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl ... According to court documents, Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, and their co-conspirators allegedly controlled extensive, multi-faceted, and international operations covering the fentanyl trade. Through these efforts, the Chapitos and the Sinaloa Cartel allegedly reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in profits by flooding the United States with fentanyl", the Justice Department's Office of Public Affairs explained.

The arrest of Ovidio Guzmán and his possible conviction

The arrest of Ovidio Guzmán occurred last January in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in Mexico. The incident occurred in an operation in which, according to the media, 10 soldiers and 19 alleged criminals died. Guzmán had already been arrested in 2019 but was released at that time by the socialist government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Although the main charges against El Ratón are already known, at the moment it is not known exactly how long Ovidio Guzmán will have to spend in prison in the United States if convicted. His father received a life sentence plus 30 years in prison on charges including 26 drug offenses and conspiracy to commit murder.