“El Licenciado” extradited to the U.S., Mexico says he is potentially key witness against El Chapo

Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat

Once the most trusted person to El Chapo, Dámaso López aka “El Licenciado”, has been extradited to the United States,  just in time for the September trial of Joaquín Guzmán, aka El Chapo.  Dámaso López  was airlifted to the U.S. out of Juarez.

The relationship began when Damaso Lopez assisted Chapo in his prison break, from Puente Grande Prison in Jalisco.  Lopez was the chief of security at the prison, and helped Chapo set up a network of corruption during his incarceration. 

Then in 2001, according to Mexican authorities, he planned for and allowed the capo to escape.  

It has been speculated that talks have been in the works for months and a deal was agreed upon between the U.S. and Damaso, as well as his son, Damaso Lopez-Serrano, aka “Mini Lic,”who gave himself up to the U.S. in 2017. It appears talks began in depth in  2017.  An interpreter was requested at that time and an indictment was initiated in  December, 2017.

Damaso's lost a power struggle war with Chapo’s sons and Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, which placed his son in danger of being killed and ultimately he gave himself up.  Reportedly, Damaso was aided by El Mencho in the clash.  The rupture between the Lopez and the Guzman occurred after the kidnapping of the Chapo’s sons in a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta at the hands of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación aka CJNG  in August 2016.  

In Mexico, Lopez Nunez has not been charged with the murder of the journalist Javier Valdez, founder of the weekly newspaper Ríodoce and correspondent of La Jornada, who was gunned down on May 15, 2017.  On May 2^nd Lopez Nunez was arrested.

Lopez Nunez is suspected of being the mastermind of the Valdez murder, which is an ongoing investigation.  The investigation revealed that part of the payment for the murder, the perps received a handgun that had images of  drug traffickers engraved in its handle. 

The two criminal cases against Dámaso López are suspended in Mexico, in order not to violate procedural guarantees and to be able to resume them, once the legal situation in the United States was completed.

Damaso Sr., if there is a trial, will be tried in Virginia on trafficking and money laundering charges.

If Sr. is one of the cooperators in the trial of El Chapo, he undoubtedly would be, one of the most powerful tools against El Chapo.

PGR Presser

Alberto Elías Beltrán, in charge of the PGR's office, said that  López  is a potential "key witness" in the trial against Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, capo of the Sinaloa Cartel.

"According to the Government of the United States, Damaso 'L' is potentially a key witness against Joaquín Guzmán Loera, considered the main leader of a criminal group operating in the state of Sinaloa. "

"This extradition is essential for both the US and Mexican authorities, for the testimonial contribution that can be obtained in relation to Joaquín Guzmán Loera and demonstrates the cooperative relationship between both Governments, particularly in regard to the exchange of information, "he said in a message to the press."

Lopez Nuñez, 52, arrived in the United States this afternoon and will make an initial appearance on Monday, July 9, before U.S. Magistrate Michael S. Nachmanoff in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III.

Look for Lopez Nunez to wrap up his plea deal and enter a plea of guilty in short order, as El Chapo will be going to trial in less than two months.

Below unsealed indictments the most recent and recently unsealed,  followed by older indictments:

   damaso Lopez Nunez Indictment  and mini lic by Chivis Martinez on Scribd

   Damaso Lopez-Nunez Indictment by TalkLeft on Scribd

   Lopez-serrano Indictment 2015 by Chivis Martinez on Scribd