The hearing of Joaquín Guzmán López, son of drug lord "El Chapo" Guzmán was delayed by one month as U.S. authorities continue working with him and his brother in order to reach a plea deal that would facilitate the arrest of his half-brother and leader of the "Chapitos" faction of the Sinaloa cartel, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar.
As federal prosecutors and defense attorneys continue working on agreements that would see the defendant avoid trial, reports suggest that the delay could be attributed to wishes from American officials to capture Iván Archivaldo Guzmán before striking reduced sentences for Guzmán López and his brother Ovidio, who was extradited to the U.S. in September of 2023.
According to specialized journalist Luis Chaparro, officials would also like to secure the arrest of Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as "Mayito Flaco," leader of the "La Mayiza" clique that has been at war with Los Chapitos since September of last year.
Chaparro said in an interview that U.S. authorities "need" to secure the arrests of Iván Archivaldo and Zambada Sicairos in order to control negotiations with El Chapo's two youngest sons.
As reported by Infobae Mexico, Chaparro said that delaying the hearing scheduled for March 19 until April 18 is proof of the American government's gameplan.
"If these leaders remain at-large, the defendants have the opportunity to demand certain things. But if they are captured, the American government can impose stricter conditions to those already in trials," Chaparro added.
Ovidio, 34, faces charges of drug trafficking, organized crime, and illegal firearms possession. He was arrested in January 2023 and extradited to the United States in September. His case has drawn widespread attention due to his high-profile role within the cartel.
Negotiations for Joaquín Guzmán, 38, are more complex. Captured in July 2024 after landing at a rural airport near El Paso, Texas, he was apprehended alongside Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a former ally of El Chapo and co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel.
Both brothers, along with Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar (the elder Chapo's sons free in Mexico), face federal indictments that accuse them of leading the Sinaloa cartel. Their charges include trafficking fentanyl, money laundering, and organized crime, as announced by U.S. authorities in April 2023.
Since Chapitos and Mayos started to fight for drug smuggling routes and control of the Sinaloa cartel, authorities in Sinaloa have reported at least 944 homicide cases, according to data from Mexican news outlet Noroeste.
Since the start of 2025, 299 people have been killed in Sinaloa due to the ongoing violent conflict. The numbers have been skyrocketing since September, with at least 120 homicides reported every month.
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