Mexico Seeks Clarity on General Cienfuegos Case Amidst Ovidio Guzmán’s Plea Deal
Mexico’s president has vowed to thoroughly investigate and clarify the circumstances surrounding the case of General Salvador Cienfuegos, emphasizing his belief in the general’s innocence. This commitment comes as Ovidio Guzmán, son of infamous drug lord “El Chapo,” has reached a plea agreement with U.S. prosecutors, avoiding a potentially lengthy trial.
Cienfuegos Case Under Scrutiny
The Mexican president stated that the Cienfuegos case requires complete clarification, asserting that “it is vrey clear that there was innocence.” Consequently, the government intends to meticulously detail the entire process, from the general’s arrest to his eventual release, and to outline the Attorney General of the Republic’s involvement. The legal counsel of the Federal Executive (CJEF) is reportedly already working on presenting a complaint against Lushman, though further details on this action are pending.
Ovidio Guzmán’s Plea Agreement and its Implications
On Friday, Ovidio Guzmán, a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, opted to avoid a trial in the United States by pleading guilty to charges related to organized crime. Judge Sharon Coleman is scheduled to set his sentence within six months. This plea deal is widely expected to spare Guzmán from a life sentence,as U.S. prosecutor Andrew Bourtos indicated a willingness to recommend a lesser penalty than perpetual imprisonment in exchange for Guzmán’s cooperation. The prosecution has also requested a fine of $80 million, though the final sentence and financial penalty will be steadfast by Judge Coleman.
Washington has accused Ovidio and his brothers, Joaquín, Iván Archivaldo, and Jesús Alfredo, of leading “Los Chapitos,” a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel designated as a terrorist association by the former Trump management. President Sheinbaum of Mexico had previously expressed a “lack of coherence” in the U.S. authorities’ approach, questioning the decision to negotiate a plea agreement with a member of an organization they deem terrorist.
Ovidio Guzmán first gained meaningful notoriety following his arrest in Mexico in October 2019. He was afterward released by than-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during an incident known as the “culiacanazo.” The former president defended this decision, citing the avoidance of a potential bloodbath as military personnel where reportedly surrounded by heavily armed cartel members. Ovidio guzmán was recaptured in January 2023, during López Obrador’s presidency, and later extradited to the United States.
This marks the first instance of one of “El Chapo’s” sons entering into an agreement with U.S. prosecutors. His brother, Joaquín Guzmán, who was arrested in Chicago without bail, might potentially be the next to face legal proceedings. joaquín was apprehended in July 2024 upon landing in texas alongside Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada,a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel. Zambada himself claimed to have been a victim of kidnapping orchestrated by his godson in exchange for leniency from U.S. justice. Mike Vigil, former head of operations for the DEA, noted that 17 relatives of Ovidio Guzmán entered the United States as part of this arrangement.
the Trump administration had previously imposed sanctions on ”Los Chapitos” for their involvement in fentanyl trafficking and increased the reward for the two currently fugitive brothers to $10 million. The U.S. administration attributes the wave of violence plaguing Mexico and the United States, affecting civilians, security forces, and rival cartels, to the leadership of Archivaldo Iván Guzmán. Following the arrest of Zambada, internal conflicts among his heirs and “El chapo’s” sons have resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 1,400 disappearances in the state of Sinaloa, according to official figures.
