U.S. Court Rejects Former Drug Lord El Chapo's Appeal for Review of Life Sentence

December 28, 2023

A U.S. court has dismissed an appeal by former Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to reconsider the 2019 ruling that sentenced him to life in prison. Guzman, once the notorious leader of the Sinaloa cartel responsible for numerous deaths in Mexico, sought a review through habeas corpus petitions – civil suits designed to assess the lawfulness of imprisonment.

Judge Brian Cogan of the Eastern District of New York, who presided over Guzman's 2019 trial, highlighted the significance of the case, stating, "This was perhaps the most notorious criminal prosecution of the decade." The ruling highlighted that the charges against Guzman could have potentially led to the death penalty if not for the terms of his extradition.

The court rejected arguments claiming that Guzman's defense did not adequately explore a plea bargain. Additionally, sealed evidence was cited, suggesting that despite the absence of assets in his name, Guzman may still control billions of dollars. The judge questioned the source of funds for Guzman's legal representation and why his wife, released from prison in September, has not gained access to his assets.

Judge Cogan denied the request for additional legal counsel, noting that Mariel Colon Miro, a lawyer who has represented Guzman and his wife in recent years, had already provided assistance. Colon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Currently serving a life sentence in a Colorado prison known as the "Alcatraz of the Rockies," Guzman, aged 66, is held in solitary confinement for 23 hours per day. His escape history, including a mile-long tunnel breakout in Mexico, led to his 2017 deportation to the United States, where he was subsequently convicted on drug trafficking charges in 2019.

The Sinaloa cartel, once led by Guzman, remains a formidable criminal organization in Mexico, alongside its main rival, the Jalisco New Generation cartel. Notably, a powerful faction within the Sinaloa cartel is now under the leadership of Guzman's four sons, with one of them also facing extradition to the United States.