A US judge has sent Mexican drug long behind the bars – again! Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is now held under life in prison. The 62-year-old got what was due after he was found guilty of 10 charges in February. A New York federal court held him responsible for drug trafficking and money laundering among other charges.
El Chapo has escaped before, will life imprisonment stop him this time?
Escaping History
The Mexican drug lord is infamous for his 2015 escape. El Chapo escaped from a Mexican jail from a tunnel. But he was arrested afterwards. Later, in 2017, he was extradited to the US.
Guzmán is the former head of a Mexican cartel – Sinaloa. According to officials, this cartel was the biggest drugs supplier to the US. So much so that he made it to the 2009 Forbes’ list of richest men.
Not a fair trial?
El Chapo and his lawyer are claiming that he did not get a fair trial. Moreover, according to his lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, the trials were influenced by media coverage.
Before Wednesday’s sentencing, El Chapo spoke through an interpreter and quoted that his confinement in the US had resulted in “torture.” Additionally, he said that he did not receive a fair trial.
Furthermore, according to a report, “The life sentence was the minimum Guzmán faced. The additional 30 years were for unlawful uses of firearms. He was also ordered to pay $12.6bn (£10bn) in forfeiture.”
