Famous Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman who is best known as El Chapo was on Wednesday sentenced to life in imprisonment plus additional 30-years by a US federal judge. He was also ordered to pay $12.6 Billion in forfeiture.
According to the report by CNN, before today’s sentencing, attorney Mariel Colon who has visited Guzman regularly in prison before, during and after his trial, said she is optimistic about his chances on appeal which will be determined later.
Joaquin El Chapo Guzman while appearing in Court on Wednesday, was smiling when he came in greeting his lawyers first asking, “Y mi esposa?” (which means “And my wife?”).
He then saw her at her usual seat in the second row on the right-hand side of the court, blew her a kiss, and tapped his hand on his heart twice while looking at her. Emma Coronel Aispuro returned the kiss and blew it at him.
Guzman’s voice quivered several times during his statement to the court.
“First of all I want to thank my wife and my children for their unconditional love and support during this long proceeding,” El Chapo said.
When Guzman was thanking his wife, she could be seen leaning forward and bending her head down.
On the way out of court after hearing his sentence, El Chapo again blew his wife two kisses, which she returned in what could possibly be the moment of their final goodbye.
When asked prior to sentencing if today is the last time Guzman will see his wife, defence attorney William Purpura said, “That’s a good question. The way things stand right now, unfortunately, yes.”
Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years Wednesday. The court also ordered Guzman to pay $12.6 billion in a forfeit.
Guzman was found guilty on 10 federal charges, including murder conspiracies, running a continuing criminal enterprise and other drug-related charges. Guzman was the leader of the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa Cartel.
He spoke in the courtroom before the sentencing. Guzman said incarceration was “physical, emotional and mental torture” and “the most inhumane situation I have lived in my entire life.”
One of Guzman’s defence attorneys, Jeffrey Lichtman, said the trial was “not justice.” He said Guzman did not receive a fair trial after the judge denied Guzman’s request for a hearing to investigate possible juror misconduct.
What the prosecutors said: Brian A. Benczkowski, the assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, called the sentencing “a measure of justice” and added that Guzman won’t be able to “pour poison over our borders.”
Guzman is expected to be transported to the Supermax federal facility in Colorado the same facility the Unabomber and Boston bomber are serving their sentences.
(CNN/yellowdanfo)