USA TODAY International Edition
‘El Chapo’ guilty on drug trafficking charges
NEW YORK – A federal jury slammed the door on a final escape bid by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman Loera on Tuesday, convicting the former leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel of drug trafficking, weapons charges and operating a criminal enterprise – a verdict that could send him to prison for life.
The jury unanimously found Guzman guilty on all 10 criminal counts. It was the sixth day of deliberations.
Guzman, 61, listened intently through a Spanish interpreter as U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan read the guilty counts aloud.
Guzman’s wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, gave him a brief thumbs up just before security officers led him out of the courtroom.
The heavy security around the courthouse during the 12-week trial remained after the verdict. Soldiers armed with assault rifles stood guard.
Cogan set a tentative sentencing date for June 25.
Guzman’s legal team vowed to pursue an appeal after the sentence is imposed. Defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman said Guzman remained optimistic.
Prosecutors said the Sinaloa Cartel generated billions of dollars by smuggling tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs.
“There are those who say the war on drugs is not worth fighting,” said Richard Donoghue, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Those people are wrong.”
Federal officials declined to answer questions about the verdict because Guzman remains the subject of charges in Florida, Texas and elsewhere.