Kidnapping Of El Chapo's Cartel Partner Hangs Over U.s. Indictment Of Mexican Governor

The indictment is singular successful its detail, laying retired a web of corruption astatine nan highest levels of nan Mexican government.

At nan center, according to nan U.S. Department of Justice, is Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya, accused of allowing his state’s eponymous cartel to run pinch impunity aft its leaders guaranteed his predetermination by sending gunmen to intimidate rival candidates, bargain ballots and frighten voters astatine nan polls.

Rocha Moya, who maintained he’d done thing incorrect arsenic he took time off arsenic politician this period to reside nan charges, is allegedly successful convention pinch “Los Chapitos,” a cartel faction led by 4 sons of nan infamous Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

While prosecutors successful nan Southern District of New York described damning evidence, nan indictment was arsenic notable for each that was not mentioned. One sanction successful peculiar was conspicuously absent: Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a longtime partner of El Chapo pinch a estimation arsenic nan Sinaloa cartel’s astir powerful godfather.

Beyond a ledger of monthly bribe payments to apical Sinaloan officials that prosecutors said was “recovered from Mexico” during nan investigation, nan indictment appeared to trust connected grounds that had to person been obtained done bonzer surveillance — aliases from group intimately acquainted pinch Los Chapitos.

Many cartel leaders, emotion nan power from U.S. authorities, person turned connected 1 different successful caller years — and nan latest lawsuit has near questions hanging astir whether further betrayals are yet to come. Two sons of El Chapo stay fugitives, though location is talk they whitethorn onslaught a woody to debar nan destiny of being killed aliases captured.

Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya, left, attends an arena successful Mexico City connected April 17. Rocha Moya was charged this period by U.S. authorities pinch being corrupted by nan Sinaloa cartel. He has denied nan allegations.

(Luis Barron / Eyepix Group / Sipa USA via AP)

The charges against Rocha Moya and 9 different existent and erstwhile Sinaloan officials person roiled Mexican authorities and heightened scrutiny of nan remaining loose ends successful nan cases of Zambada and 2 Chapitos already successful U.S. custody.

Some fishy nan concatenation of events that led to nan caller charges began astir 2 years ago, erstwhile a backstage pitchy arrived astatine a mini New Mexico airdrome carrying 3 people.

One was Zambada, a septuagenarian kingpin pinch truthful galore judges, generals and politicians successful his pouch that he was capable to debar spending a azygous nighttime successful jailhouse successful a criminal profession that stretched backmost to nan 1970s. The others connected committee were nan aviator and Joaquín Guzmán López, a 39-year-old boy of El Chapo and Zambada’s godson.

According to Zambada’s type of what transpired, told done a connection issued by his lawyer, he was ambushed and kidnapped by Guzmán López, who lured him to a villa connected nan outskirts of Sinaloa’s capital, Culiacán, wherever he expected to mediate a conflict betwixt Rocha Moya and different Sinaloan politician.

Rocha Moya claims his sanction was utilized arsenic bait. The politician has denied immoderate knowledge of nan crippled and has an alibi that he was walking to Los Angeles that day. Zambada only described seeing nan different politician, who he said was gunned down astatine nan scene.

Zambada said Guzmán López forced him onto nan level and past delivered him to FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents waiting connected nan New Mexico tarmac.

Zambada pleaded blameworthy successful August to charges he co-founded nan Sinaloa cartel and trafficked thousands of tons of drugs. Appearing successful a Brooklyn national courtroom, he said his business relied connected “paying bribes to constabulary and subject commanders and to politicians truthful they would let america to run freely.”

It was agelong speculated that Guzmán López had snatched Zambada successful hopes of currying favour pinch U.S. authorities. That mentation was confirmed erstwhile he reached a plea statement successful December successful nan U.S. District Court successful Chicago.

At nan clip of his surrender, Guzmán López faced a raft of U.S. national charges, which could person carried a life sentence. By cooperating, he will service acold little clip — a minimum of 10 years, according to a transcript of his plea proceeding reviewed by The Times.

Joaquín Guzmán López, a 39-year-old boy of nan Sinaloa cartel leader known arsenic “El Chapo,” was arrested connected July 25, 2024, successful New Mexico, on pinch his godfather, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

(Associated Press)

His plea statement said U.S. authorities “did not request, induce, sanction, o.k. aliases condone nan kidnapping” of Zambada, referred to arsenic “Individual A.” The statement said Guzmán López acted “in nan hopes of receiving practice credit.”

At his plea proceeding successful Chicago, he told nan judge he had studied finance successful assemblage earlier joining his brothers successful nan supplier trade. He said he was taking medicine for worry and depression.

“He’s only successful nan business because his brothers are bullies,” said 1 rule enforcement root acquainted pinch his lawsuit not authorized to speak publicly.

One of those brothers is Ovidio Guzmán López, who has been successful U.S. custody since 2023. He pleaded blameworthy to various charges past July, erstwhile tribunal filings revealed that he excessively is cooperating pinch U.S. authorities.

Ovidio Guzmán López, a leader of nan Sinaloa cartel faction known arsenic Los Chapitos, was detained connected Oct. 17, 2019, by Mexican information forces. He is now successful custody successful nan United States.

(Uncredited / Associated Press)

Their half-sibling is nan alleged ringleader of Los Chapitos: Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar. U.S. authorities person offered a reward of $10 million for his capture.

Guzmán Salazar, 42, is simply a cardinal fig successful nan lawsuit against Rocha Moya, pinch nan indictment claiming he commanded his service of “sicarios” to costs a run of panic successful bid to guarantee nan governor’s 2021 election.

Two sources acquainted pinch nan ongoing cases but not authorized to speak publically said Guzmán Salazar and his younger relative person been successful interaction pinch U.S. authorities astir nan anticipation of a negotiated surrender. One of nan sources said nan discussions had been underway for a year, and suspected nan brothers had been waiting to spot really their half-siblings’ cases play retired earlier making their move.

The lawyer for nan brothers, Jeffrey Lichtman, did not respond to questions from The Times.

If Guzmán Salazar ever faces justness successful nan U.S. — wherever he is nether aggregate national indictments — it’s unclear whether he would beryllium charged pinch immoderate crimes successful relationship pinch Zambada’s kidnapping.

So far, cipher has been held to relationship for nan sidesplitting of Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda, a governmental rival of Rocha Moya who Zambada says was changeable to decease during his abduction. Zambada besides said 2 of his bodyguards, 1 of them a Sinaloa authorities constabulary commander, person not been “seen aliases heard from since.”

The sources who said pinch The Times said nan level that carried Zambada to nan U.S. belonged to Guzmán Salazar, suggesting it was he who orchestrated nan plot.

The aviator was apparently released aft landing and allowed to return to Mexico. He was later arrested successful Sinaloa by Mexican information forces and softly handed complete to nan Trump management past August, on pinch much than 2 twelve different suspected cartel figures.

Sources acquainted pinch nan lawsuit identified him arsenic Mauro Alberto Nunez Ojeda, aka Jondo.

Court records show he pleaded blameworthy to national charges past period successful Washington, D.C., admitting that his occupation successful nan cartel was to “work directly” for Guzmán Salazar, overseeing his fleet of aircraft, serving arsenic his individual aviator and ferrying shipments of narcotics and weapons.

The tribunal filings make nary mention of Zambada’s kidnapping, and Nunez Ojeda’s lawyer did not respond to a mobility astir his client’s alleged domiciled successful nan affair. A Department of Justice spokesperson declined to comment.

In a July 26, 2024, news conference, Mexico’s then-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador discussed nan apprehension of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and a boy of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán by U.S. national agents.

(Alfredo Estrella / AFP via Getty Images)

Facing life successful situation pinch nary parole, Zambada is being held while he awaits a July 20 sentencing proceeding astatine nan aforesaid national jailhouse successful Brooklyn that houses erstwhile Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Given nan anticipation that he could beryllium shipped to nan distant “supermax” situation successful Colorado wherever his erstwhile partner El Chapo has been held successful utmost isolation since his 2019 conviction, immoderate person speculated that Zambada could activity to thief himself by spilling secrets astir Rocha Moya and others.

Zambada’s lawyer, Frank Perez, has denied immoderate specified thing.

“Reports circulating connected media outlets claiming that Mr. Zambada has entered into a practice statement pinch nan United States authorities are categorically false,” Perez said successful a connection to The Times. “Mr. Zambada has not entered into immoderate practice agreement, has not pled pursuant to immoderate practice arrangement, and is not cooperating pinch nan United States authorities successful immoderate capacity.”

Whether nan kidnapping of Zambada was a masterstroke aliases a blunder for Los Chapitos remains to beryllium seen. The betrayal triggered a civilian warfare wrong nan cartel, and nan factions loyal to El Chapo’s sons person been severely weakened complete nan past year, losing territory crossed Sinaloa.

The indictment of Rocha Moya appears to onslaught different blow, and acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche said past week that much charges could beryllium connected pat soon against different Mexican officials.

Regardless of what happens next, 1 root acquainted pinch nan Chapitos cases said nan kidnapping of Zambada was “a legit gangster move, for sure.”