Los Chapitos’ lawyer confirms that Joaquín and Ovidio Guzmán are negotiating a deal with the United States | International

The sons of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán are negotiating to cooperate with the American justice system. This was confirmed on Monday by the Guzmán family’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, ending weeks of speculation about a possible settlement for Los Chapitos. Lichtman made these revelations during the first hearing of Ovidio Guzmán, also known as El Ratón, in a Chicago court, following the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, Ovidio’s older brother, in late July. Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman has scheduled a joint hearing for both brothers for Jan. 7.

This is the first time that Lichtman – who represents both brothers – has acknowledged negotiations with authorities. Reports of a possible collaboration by Los Chapitos to betray and expose their former partners in exchange for a reduced sentence have gained momentum in recent days, especially after Mexican media reported that Joaquín and Ovidio Guzmán had been transferred from prison in recent weeks. After a brief hearing lasting about 15 minutes, the attorney made clear to reporters that his clients remain in U.S. custody and attributed the transfers largely to security concerns at the federal prison in Chicago.

El Mayo accused Joaquín “El Güero” Guzmán, his godson, of kidnapping him and handing him over to US security forces in exchange for favorable legal treatment for his brother, who was extradited last September. The hearing in January could end months of speculation about the pact between El Chapo’s sons and the United States. Since September 9, the men of El Mayo and La Chapiza have been locked in a battle for control of the Sinaloa Cartel. Zambada is currently undergoing legal proceedings in New York and last Friday appeared in a court in Brooklyn, the center of the United States’ legal offensive against Mexican cartels.

Following the publication of El Mayo’s letter in mid-August, attorney Jeffrey Lichtman adamantly and repeatedly denied the possibility of a settlement. Last Friday he told the television network Telemundo that such a deal did not exist. Lichtman, who also represented El Chapo during his 2019 trial, was cautious in his statements to the media. However, as the investigation into El Mayo’s capture continues, both the Mexican and U.S. governments have suggested that Los Chapitos spent years secretly negotiating and informally contacting U.S. agencies to arrange their surrender. This is now the most plausible explanation behind Zambada’s arrest and the main line of inquiry for Mexican authorities.

The Public Prosecution Service (FGR) has launched an investigation to determine what happened in Mexico in the hours leading up to El Mayo’s arrest at a rural airport near El Paso. In its latest statement, released on Sunday, the FGR confirmed that Héctor Cuén – a former mayor of Culiacán and elected federal congressman – was murdered at the same ranch where Zambada claimed he was kidnapped and tied up by Los Chapitos. The 76-year-old drug lord said he was overpowered after being called to a meeting with Cuén and his main political rival, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya.

Authorities revealed that traces of Héctor Cuén’s blood were found at the crime scene, marking the first material evidence revealed after the murder. In an earlier statement at the end of August, the FGR had linked Ovidio Guzmán to the kidnapping of El Mayo and indicated that it was investigating whether Ovidio played a role as one of the masterminds behind the attack on his former partner. However, the FGR’s latest statement did not comment on this claim. Joaquín Guzmán López remains the main suspect of the FGR. Moya has denied any link to the drug trafficker.

After weeks of silence, the lawsuits against El Mayo and Los Chapitos in the United States are once again intertwined. The Guzmán brothers have been summoned by the judge to appear together for the first time since El Güero surrendered on July 25. Meanwhile, Zambada had his first hearing in New York before Judge Brian Cogan, the same judge who sentenced El Chapo to life in prison. in 2019 and recently handed a 38-year prison sentence to Genaro García Luna. The next court hearing in Zambada is set for January 15, just a week after El Chapo’s sons will hold their next hearing in Illinois. As the web of betrayal unfolds across the border, Sinaloa continues to suffer violence. According to official data, nine more murders were reported in the state over the weekend.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition