EL CHAPO: MONEY
No atty. fees unless kingpin says so
Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s family members are refusing to cough up attorney’s fees unless they hear the alleged drug kingpin himself order the payment, he claimed through his lawyer in court on Thursday.
Guzmán — in what would have been his first public words since his extradition to the United States in January 2017 — stood shakily, clutching a piece of paper in his hand, hoping to speak openly in Brooklyn federal court.
But prosecutor Andrea Goldbarg said she was worried that he’d use the opportunity to pass along secret messages.
“He desires to speak to the court directly,” defense attorney A. Eduardo Balarezo told Judge Brian Cogan.
“He wants his family to know they should pay his attorney,” Balarezo continued. “Obviously he wants me to take my fees, and sometimes people need to hear that directly from the horse’s mouth.”
Cogan responded, “I don’t see why his family would disbelieve you, with him sitting next to you,” as Guzmán blew kisses to ex-beauty-queen wife Emma Coronel Aispuro, sitting in the gallery with their 6-year-old twin girls.
“The persons we are dealing with don’t always rely on the attorney’s word. That’s all I’m saying,” Balarezo said.
When asked outside court whom he was referring to, the lawyer deadpanned: “They know who they are.”
He clarified that “friends” of his client had made a partial payment, but other fees were outstanding.
In court, the attorney also made it very clear his client intended to cut no deals or cooperate with the government.
Balarezo, when later asked for whom that declaration was intended, responded, “The people who it was intended for know who they are.”
El Chapo also wanted to personally speak to the judge regarding his restrictive jail conditions, which Balarezo characterized as “preventing him from obtaining the defense that he wants.”
The alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader has been vocal in court filings about jail conditions while awaiting trial — saying they are worse than in Colorado’s notorious Supermax prison — with his lawyer Thursday saying his client’s health is continuing to deteriorate.