“Ovidio Guzmán could be released in 5 years and live in the US as a protected witness”, expert says

Ovidio Guzmán could be released in 5 years and live in the US as a protected witness, according to a security expert.

José Luis Montenegro points out that “El Ratón” (The Mouse) has reportedly negotiated a reduced sentence with the US justice system in exchange for cooperation.

The judicial story of Ovidio Guzmán López, alias El Ratón, could be closer to an unexpected outcome.

According to the journalist and specialist in security and drug trafficking, José Luis Montenegro, the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has reportedly reached an agreement with the US justice system that would involve a reduced sentence and his entry into the protected witness program.

Montenegro explained that, following his guilty plea before an Illinois court, it is highly likely that the defense of the alleged leader of Los Chapitos has negotiated favorable terms with the US prosecutor’s office.

“It’s very likely that Ovidio Guzmán will be released in approximately five years. Since he’s already been in prison for two or two and a half years, he’ll likely only serve two and a half more years,” the expert stated.

Montenegro also noted that June 30, the day Ovidio signed his statement, could mark a turning point in his criminal history, as it was the date he could have been formally accepted into the United States’ witness protection system.

This would require the US government to provide him with a new identity, a home, a monthly income, and possibly protection for him and his family. However, the journalist believes that Ovidio, having amassed a considerable fortune, would hardly need additional financial assistance.

“The United States negotiated that part, that of the illicit profits he accumulated, the country would keep a large portion,” he noted.

Likewise, as part of the protection strategy, 17 members of Ovidio Guzmán’s family are already in the United States, including his mother, wife, and daughters. All arrived in May of this year.

July 9th, a key day

A key hearing will be held on July 9th to hear the specific terms of the agreement reached between Ovidio Guzmán and the U.S. justice system. That date, according to Montenegro, will mark the closing of a crucial chapter for El Ratón, but will also open the door to other relevant names.

A week later, on July 15th, his brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, is expected to appear before the same court. And on August 25th, it will be the turn of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the historic leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Will there be names of Mexican politicians?

Montenegro did not rule out that, as a protected witness, Ovidio could incriminate former Mexican officials. He recalled that Los Chapitos began their criminal rise during Felipe Calderón’s administration and allegedly maintained ties with Genaro García Luna, as well as with subsequent governments, including those of Enrique Peña Nieto and Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

One of the cases that could be linked, according to his investigators, is the Casa de Bolsa Vector case, where money laundering operations by the Sinaloa Cartel were allegedly detected. In this case, it could have been key to Ovidio Guzmán gaining access to the witness protection program.

“Now, with this designation, we’ll see who he’s going to appoint, as they say in criminal parlance,” Montenegro concluded.

Source: INFOBAE

The Mazatlan Post

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