Jeffrey Lichtman Takes on Defense of Ovidio Guzmán López in US Extradition Case

New York, EU / Editorial.-

This Monday, Ovidio Guzmán López had his first hearing in the United States after his extradition from Mexico. Jeffrey Lichtman, the lawyer who also represented his father, drug trafficker Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, will take on his defense.

With more than 32 years of criminal law experience, Lichtman has practiced in federal and state courts in New York, defending clients accused of various crimes, from drug trafficking and money laundering to securities fraud and murder. His high-profile clientele has cemented his international reputation, especially with the Chapo Guzmán case, and now that of his son, nicknamed ‘El Ratón’.

During El Chapo’s trial in 2018, Lichtman generated headlines by pointing out Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada as the true leader of the Sinaloa Cartel and accusing former Mexican presidents Enrique Peña Nieto and Felipe Calderón of receiving million-dollar bribes from the criminal organization. In addition, he achieved a reduced sentence for Emma Coronel, the last wife of the Mexican drug lord, which resulted in her release on September 13.

Jeffrey Lichtman earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1990 and opened his own law firm in 1999, achieving “extraordinary success on some of the nation’s biggest stages,” according to his official website.

In a recent interview cited by Reuters, the lawyer confirmed that Ovidio Guzmán will not cooperate with the US authorities against his brothers. “He has no plans to cooperate against his brothers. At this point, we are going to review the case and decide what we are going to do next,” Lichtman stated.

Likewise, the lawyer mentioned that Ovidio’s current state affects his emotional well-being. “He’s a human being, he’s a sensitive person, he’s calm and thoughtful, so it hasn’t been an easy time for him,” he added.

Jeffrey Lichtman also highlighted that Ovidio Guzmán is not subject to the same “special” administrative measures that were applied to his father, as he is not considered to have the same level of security risk. “It will be much easier for him than for his father,” Lichtman concluded.

“He has no complaints, he is not subject to the special administrative measures that his father was under, who was completely isolated and not allowed to speak to anyone. He does not have those conditions and is not considered the same level of security risk, so it will be much easier for him than it was for his father, who was held captive, frankly, in the worst conditions I have seen in 33 years. . The son is not under the same measures,” said Jeffrey Lichtman.

Agencies / Vox Populi News