Ovidio Guzmán has pleaded guilty to four drug trafficking charges and is now part of the Federal Witness Protection Program

Ovidio Guzmán López, known as El Ratón, son of Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán, pleaded guilty to four counts of organized crime and drug trafficking as part of his plea agreement with US authorities.

The US Attorney’s Office confirmed that Guzmán López has entered into a cooperation agreement with authorities, requesting a reduction in the Mexican’s sentence in exchange for continued “substantial assistance” to authorities.

The 35-year-old Mexican is accused by US prosecutors of participating in a criminal conspiracy with his three brothers, members of the Los Chapos cell, to import tons of drugs from Mexico to the United States.

Guzmán López is the first of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons, the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, to negotiate his surrender in a US duel.

Ovidio is now part of the Federal Witness Protection Program, known as the Witness Security Program.

Benefits of collaborating with the US

The Witness Security Program involves witnesses providing information about individuals of security interest to the US government.

It is worth mentioning that the United States seeks witnesses to testify against drug traffickers Ismael El Mayo Zambada and Rafael Caro Quintero, co-founders of the Sinaloa and Guadalajara cartels, respectively.

In many cases, the program becomes valid when they become star witnesses during a trial and, in exchange for their cooperation, are promised protection.

In this sense, the main benefit Ovidio will receive is that some members of his family will be relocated to the United States, given a new name, identification documents, and help finding employment.

It should be noted that in early May, 17 relatives of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán surrendered to the United States government, including Griselda López Pérez, the drug trafficker’s ex-wife and Ovidio Guzmán López’s mother.

The same will happen to “El Ratón” once he completes his prison sentence.

Like his brother, Joaquín Guzmán López is also one step away from becoming a witness for US justice. Recently, it was reported that authorities in the country of the Stars and Stripes are not seeking the death penalty against “El Güero.”