Hacker helped kill FBI sources, witnesses in El Chapo Guzman case

While “El Chapo” Guzmán remains incarcerated at the ADX Florence Supermax prison, recent news primarily revolves around his family, the ongoing operations of the Sinaloa Cartel (particularly the “Chapitos” faction led by his sons), and new revelations about the cartel’s past activities.

Here’s a summary of the latest significant news concerning El Chapo Guzman and his orbit:

1. Sanctions and Rewards for Fugitive Sons (June 9-11, 2025):

• The U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Archivaldo Iván Guzmán Salazar and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, two of El Chapo’s sons who are still at large and believed to be in Mexico.
• The U.S. also announced a reward of up to $10 million each for information leading to their arrest or conviction.
• These actions are part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt the “Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, which is identified as a primary exporter of fentanyl into the United States. U.S. officials claim these two sons have played leading roles in reconstituting the cartel’s international drug empire since their father’s incarceration.
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that these measures are part of “President Trump’s mandate to completely eliminate drug cartels and take on violent leaders like ‘El Chapo’s’ children.”

2. Allegations of Sinaloa Cartel Hacking and FBI Informant Deaths (June 28, 2025):

• A newly released Justice Department Inspector General’s audit revealed that in 2018, a hacker working for the Sinaloa Cartel (then led by El Chapo Guzman ) was able to obtain an FBI assistant legal attaché’s phone records at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
• The hacker allegedly used this information, combined with Mexico City’s surveillance camera system, to track the FBI official and identify people the official met with.
• The report tragically states that the cartel used this information to intimidate and, in some instances, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses. This incident highlights the sophistication of the cartel’s operations even before El Chapo’s extradition and conviction.

3. Developments with Other Sons in U.S. Custody (May-July 2025):

• Joaquín Guzmán López: U.S. federal prosecutors announced in May 2025 that they will not seek the death penalty for Joaquín Guzmán López if he is convicted of multiple charges in Chicago. His attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman (who also defended El Chapo), indicated that a plea deal might be in the works.
• Ovidio Guzmán López (“El Ratón”): Ovidio, extradited to the U.S. in 2023, is scheduled to appear in federal court in July 2025 to change his initial not guilty plea to guilty, suggesting a plea agreement with prosecutors is imminent.

• Family Members Entering the U.S.: Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed in May 2025 that 17 relatives of the Guzmán López clan (including El Chapo’s ex-wife, Griselda López Pérez, and her daughter) were allowed to enter the U.S. This move is reportedly tied to ongoing negotiations for Ovidio’s plea deal.

4. El Chapo Guzman Prison Conditions and Appeals:

• As previously reported, El Chapo Guzman continues to serve a life sentence at ADX Florence.
• He continues to make complaints about his conditions, which he describes as “psychological torment,” and has written letters to judges seeking more contact with his family. However, a federal judge denied his most recent request for phone calls and visits with his daughters in April 2024, stating that the Bureau of Prisons is “solely responsible” for his conditions post-conviction.
• His appeal of his conviction continues through the federal court system, primarily focusing on issues like the doctrine of specialty regarding his extradition and challenges to the conditions of his pretrial detention.

The ongoing news surrounding El Chapo Guzman largely illustrates the enduring influence of his family and the Sinaloa Cartel in the drug trade, particularly fentanyl, and the relentless efforts by U.S. authorities to dismantle the organization, even with its former leader in Supermax prison.