Joaquín 'El Chapito' Guzmán López hearing in US postponed again to 2027

A crucial hearing in the case of Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the infamous drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera, has been rescheduled. The sentencing preparation hearing, initially set for August 31 of this year, will now take place on March 1, 2027, in Chicago.

Guzmán López, also known as "El Chapito," previously pleaded guilty in December 2025 to two charges: drug trafficking and organized crime. His surrender to authorities was reportedly part of an effort to negotiate a deal, which also involved Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

Recent developments in Mexico add context to the case. Mexico's Attorney General's Office announced the arrest of Fausto Corrales Rodríguez, accused of involvement in covering up the murder of Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda, former rector of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa. According to prosecutors, Corrales Rodríguez allegedly accompanied Cuén Ojeda to a meeting where "El Mayo" Zambada was purportedly kidnapped and witnessed the event.

Authorities contend that Corrales Rodríguez provided contradictory statements and omitted information to mislead investigators. Zambada himself has claimed that Guzmán López deceived him into attending a meeting in Sinaloa, where he was ambushed, kidnapped, and then flown to the United States against his will.