Since July 11, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, alias "El Raton," has been practically in the hands of federal prosecutors in the United States, after signing the agreement. guilty on four drug trafficking offenses and ordered to pay $80 million.

Unlike his father, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman, from whom authorities sought to recover $12 billion, in the case of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, prosecutors can force him to pay that fine, although it is not specified whether the funds are the result of money laundering.

According to the agreement signed by attorney Jeffrey Lichtman and prosecutors from the Northern District Court in Chicago, Illinois, Ovidio Guzman Lopez will pay the fine as “proceeds of his crimes.”

“The defendant consents to the immediate imposition of a preliminary forfeiture order setting forth the amount of the personal monetary judgment that he will be required to pay,” the agreement states.

It is acknowledged that the assets forfeitable to “El Chapo’s” son are not available for seizure, but the U.S. government will request the forfeiture of any other assets of the defendant that he complies with the required amount.

“For the purpose of monitoring the defendant’s compliance with his obligation to pay a fine during any period of supervised release to which he is sentenced, the defendant further consents to the IRS disclosing to the Probation Office and the government his personal tax returns (along with extensions, correspondence, and other tax information) filed after his sentencing, through the final year of any period of supervised release to which he is sentenced,” it states.

That is, once the sentence is established and he complies with it and is on parole, if applicable, Ovidio Guzman Lopez will have to prove the payment to the authorities.

It highlights that Ovidio Guzman Lopez, like his brothers known as Los Chapitos, They have no known legal businesses outside of those related to drug trafficking.

If he fails to pay, “El Raton” could be subject to new sanctions, beyond the original plea agreement to avoid prosecution for drug trafficking.

Other Cooperation Obligations

The impact of his guilty plea also puts Ovidio Guzman Lopez on the path to deportation, once he complies with the terms agreed upon with prosecutors regarding his cooperation, focused on information and sworn statements against other alleged criminals.

Guzman Lopez could be forced to provide information and testify in several cases, because the agreement not only includes the Northern District Court of Illinois, but also the Southern District of California, the Southern District of New York, and the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section of the United States Department of Justice, that is, the national offices that investigate drug trafficking.

“This cooperation will include providing complete and truthful information in any pre-trial investigation and preparation, as well as full and truthful testimony in any criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding,” it states.

It highlights that the sentencing is scheduled in six months, so before the prosecutors’ suggestion, it is possible that Ovidio Guzman Lopez will be forced to cooperate in other cases, taking into consideration the conditions of the agreement.

“At the time of sentencing, the government will inform the sentencing judge about the degree of the defendant’s cooperation,” it states.

Ovidio Guzman Lopez will not be able to obtain a minimum sentence of 10 years, according to part of the agreement, but even life imprisonment will be considered as a recommendation, although a court will determine the punishment against the son of “El Chapo” Guzman.