The publication
Who Is ‘El Chapo’? Joaquín Guzmán Loera: Role, Charges and Status
What officials and news reports say about Joaquín Guzmán Loera, known as “El Chapo”. Everything below is attributed to its source. Accusations are allegations, not findings: anyone not convicted is presumed innocent.
At a glance
- Name: Joaquín Guzmán Loera
- Known as: El Chapo
- Role, as reported: The Justice Department described him as a principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel at his sentencing. [IBTimes, 2026-05-05 · news/research]
- Link to a criminal group: linked to the Sinaloa Cartel in official U.S. or Mexican records cited below. See the Sinaloa Cartel profile.
- On this page: 11 facts from 5 sources (2 from official records). Unverified leads are not shown.
Accusations and charges
- His first U.S. indictment was unsealed in San Diego on September 28, 1995, charging him and 22 members of his organization with conspiracy to import over eight tons of cocaine and money laundering. [U.S. Department of State (archive) · official record]
Names and aliases
- He is publicly identified as Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera. [People, 2026-08-22 · news/research]
Key events
- He was recaptured in Los Mochis, Sinaloa in January 2016 and extradited to the United States in January 2017. [Headline Society, 2026-08-22 · news/research]
- He escaped from Mexico's Puente Grande prison in January 2001, was recaptured in February 2014, escaped from Altiplano prison in July 2015, and was recaptured in January 2016. [Headline Society, 2026-08-22 · news/research]
- Emma Coronel Aispuro, who was convicted for her role in his trafficking operations, was sentenced to three years and released from prison in September 2023. [People, 2026-08-22 · news/research]
- In April 2024 a judge denied his request for visits from Coronel Aispuro and more than his allotted two phone calls per month. [People, 2026-08-22 · news/research]
- In a 2026 letter reported by CBS News, he asked to be returned to Mexico, calling his life sentence 'cruel' and saying his trial verdict 'wasn't fair.' [IBTimes · news/research]
- In Mexico he had previously been convicted on drug-trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison before his first escape. [People, 2026-08-22 · news/research]
Other reported details
- While he was a fugitive, the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest. [U.S. Department of State (archive) · official record]
- The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his conviction in 2022. [Primetimer, 2026-02-26 · news/research]
Our coverage
- Mexico Blacklists Them Too: All 46 U.S.-Sanctioned ‘Mayito Flaco’ Targets — Including Baja Gov. Marina del Pilar’s Ex-Husband Carlos Torres — Added to Mexico’s Blocked-Persons List Sep 29, 2026
- ‘Angustiadísimo’: El Chapo Offered to Give Up Sinaloa Cartel Secrets to Save Sons Kidnapped by El Mencho’s CJNG in Puerto Vallarta, Ex-Security Chief Says Sep 28, 2026
- “They Were Tired and Old”: ‘La Chapodiputada’ Lucero Sánchez Says El Chapo and El Mayo Planned to Retire Together — and Didn’t Want Their Sons to Take Over Sep 26, 2026
- Sheinbaum vows federal troops stay in Sinaloa ‘as long as necessary,’ blames US for violence surge Sep 21, 2026
Sinaloa Cartel profile · More “Who is” profiles
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. If you are named here and believe something is wrong, contact us via our corrections page.