Joaquin Guzman Lopez Pleads Not Guilty, Lawyer Denies Any US Agreement was Made

 "Socalj" for Borderland Beat

"Take it from me as someone who knows, rather than from someone who thinks he knows or an anonymous source," said Lichtman. "We've got no agreement with the government. There has never been an agreement with the government with Joaquin Guzman Lopez. Period."

"Whatever happened was not done at the direction of the government...He's happy to be here. That's all I can really say at this point."

Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Jr., one of the sons of “El Chapo,” pleaded not guilty to narcotics trafficking conspiracy and money laundering charges in Chicago. He faces up to the death penalty on one of the five counts. This potential punishment would have been dropped had Mexico agreed to extradite Joaquin. 

Unlike during "El Mayo's" arraignment, the younger Sinaloa Cartel figure stood for the 15-minute hearing, answering U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman’s questions about his health and ability to understand the proceedings in heavily accented but fluent English.

Asked how he pleaded to the indictment against him, Guzmán López leaned into the microphone and said, “Not guilty, your honor.” Guzmán López waived his right to a detention hearing and will remain in custody pending trial.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez's lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman also represented 'El Chapo', Emma Coronel Aispuro and Ovidio Guzmán who was moved or 'released' on July 23, 2024, two days ahead of the plane landing in the US and the arrests taking place. Some claim Ovidido was transfered to El Paso, Texas which wouldnt make sense as both he and Joaquin faced indictments primarily in Chicago. 

What is likely, and would contradict that there was no prior agreement with the US government as claimed by Lichtman is that Ovidio was moved from the MCC federal detention center in Chicago prior to Joaquin's arrival to not have the brothers be held in the same facility awaiting trial.

“He’s happy to be here. That’s all I can really say at this point,” Lichtman said. “I like him already. He’s somebody I can relate to. Just like I related to his father, just like I related to Ovidio.”

Lichtman also criticized — but did not refute — statements made by El Mayo’s attorney that Guzmán López had forcibly kidnapped the Sinaloa boss and flew him to U.S. soil against his will. Lichtman noted that there are no charges related to that allegation.

He also stated that so far there are no accusations against 'El Güero' for kidnapping, in response to the allegations made by 'El Mayo's' lawyer.

"He's not being accused of kidnapping. When the government accuses him, then I'll take notice. When lawyers who are trying to score points with the media make accusations then I ignore that because it's meaningless."

Mexico has opened an investigation into the events leading to the arrest.

“Mayo is obviously, you know, he’s doing his thing," the lawyer for Joaquin Guzman Lopez said today. "He’s managed to stay clear of a jail cell for 50 years. It’s very impressive. I don’t know how he did it. I wish him all the luck in the world."

Meanwhile, Lichtman said repeatedly in Chicago that he could not address how his client got to be on that plane with El Mayo, a story he said that “seems to be changing every few minutes.”

“Eventually it will all come out,” he said. “But as a defense lawyer it’s just noise. I’m here to help the man and get him the best possible result. I’m not here to respond to the internet. Whatever happened was not done at the direction of the government."

Sources Chicago Tribune, Reuters