*GUILTY* EL Chapo - Drug Cartel Chief, arrested Trafficking/conspiracy/firearms

[YESorNO]

Watch El Chapo’s Exclusive Interview in Its 17-Minute Entirety
Kingpin videotaped responses to Sean Penn’s questions while still in hiding

"On Friday, January 8th, nearly six months after his escape from Mexico’s most secure prison, Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín Guzmán Loera, a.k.a. El Chapo, was apprehended and taken back into custody. Just months earlier, Sean Penn had traveled in secret through the Mexican jungle to meet with Chapo, then America’s most wanted international fugitive. Upon meeting Penn, the drug kingpin consented to an interview at a later time. Ultimately, it proved impossible to do the interview in-person, but Penn sent questions by BBM device and Chapo agreed to record his responses on videotape. Without being present, Penn could neither control the questioning, nor prod for elaborations into his responses. Above, you can view the 17-minute video that Chapo sent back in its entirety."

Watch El Chapo’s Exclusive Interview in Its 17-Minute Entirety – Rolling Stone
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[YESorNO]

This is Richard Donoghue, centre, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, entering the Brooklyn federal court today.

(Credit: AP / Mark Lennihan)
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This is a picture of Emma Coronel, the wife of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, arriving for her husband's trial in Brooklyn federal court.

(Credit: AP / Mark Lennihan)

Follow live updates from the El Chapo trial in New York
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[YESorNO]

• Lucy Anna 13 November 2018 21:20

Guzman's lawyers have signalled they intend to downplay their client's role in the Sinaloa Cartel, which prosecutors claim he led for years.

21:34
Opening statements have now begun.

21:36
Assistant US Attorney Adam Fels has told the jury that they will hear Joaquin Guzman "in his own words".

Mr Fels says Guzman's text messages will be shown as part of the trial evidence. The prosecutor claims Guzman began in the early 1970s by selling marijuana in Mexico, but built his infamous reputation by building tunnels across the Mexico-U.S. border to transport drugs.

21:37
In response to Mr Fels and the DoJ's claims, Guzman's lawyers say he is being framed by cooperators.

22:19
In their opening statement, Guzman's defence have claimed the Sinaloa Cartel bribed Mexico presidents, according to AFP.

22:13
Assistant US Attorney Adam Fels told the jury that Guzman "sent killers to wipe out competitors," and "waged wars against longtime partners ... including his own cousins."

Guzman, who has been held in solitary confinement since his extradition to the United States early last year, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he amassed a multi-billion-dollar fortune smuggling tons of cocaine and other drugs in a vast supply chain that reached New York, New Jersey, Texas and elsewhere north of the border.

22:14
Mr Fels described to jurors how Guzman built his reputation by allegedly constructing tunnels across the Mexico-US border to transport drugs so fast that he was "no longer El Chapo, the short one." Instead, he became known as "the speedy one."

22:15
Assistant US Attorney Adam Fels said Guzman used some of his wealth to pay off the Mexican military and police and to finance assault rifles, grenade launchers and explosives to engage in "war after bloody war."

More than a dozen cooperating witnesses are scheduled to testify, including some who worked for Guzman's Sinaloa cartel.
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[YESorNO]

Fernando Sabines‏ @FernandoSabines 15m15 minutes ago
Listen to: Opening Statements Begin In #ElChapo ' Trial -

Listen Now: Opening Statements Begin In 'El Chapo' Trial

 

[YESorNO]

Tamara Gitt‏Verified account @tamaragitt 11m11 minutes ago
“Plot” highlight from last #ElChapo trial pool note courtesy of reporters inside courtroom during Day 1 of El Chapo’s trial...”while this could be construed as an escape attempt, it did appear to be a legitimate mistake”

 

[YESorNO]

US trial of Mexican drug lord "El Chapo" gets underway (with clip)

"NEW YORK (AP) - The high-security trial of infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman got underway on Tuesday, with a prosecutor telling jurors how the man who got his start in a modest marijuana-selling business in Mexico ruthlessly turned it into a blood-drenched smuggling operation that funneled cocaine and other drugs as far north as New York.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Fels told a jury in a New York City courtroom that Guzman “sent killers to wipe out competitors,” and “waged wars against longtime partners ... including his own cousins.”...

Prosecutors have said they will use thousands of documents, videos and recordings as evidence, including material related to drug smugglers’ safe houses and Guzman’s 2015 prison escape and the law enforcement operation to recapture him.

Fels described to jurors how Guzman started modestly in the early 1970s by selling marijuana in Mexico, but built his reputation by constructing tunnels across the Mexico-U.S. border to transport marijuana and cocaine so fast that he was “no longer El Chapo, the short one.” Instead, he became known as “the speedy one.” Before his tunnels, it had taken weeks to move drugs across the border to the U.S....

More than a dozen cooperating witnesses are scheduled to testify, including some who worked for Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel. Prosecutors say they risk retribution by taking the stand and the court has taken steps to conceal their identities. U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan barred courtroom sketch artists from drawing them.

Guzman’s lawyers are expected to attack the credibility of the witnesses by emphasizing their criminal records, saying some have an incentive to lie to win leniency in their own cases.

One of Guzman’s attorneys, Eduardo Balarezo, has suggested that he hopes to convince jurors Guzman wasn’t actually in charge of the cartel but was a lieutenant taking orders from someone else.

“Now that trial is upon us, it is time to put up or shut up,” Balarezo said...."

US trial of Mexican drug lord "El Chapo" gets underway

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[YESorNO]

Juror dismissed, opening statements delayed in 'El Chapo' trial in New York (with clip)

"NEW YORK -- Opening statements were delayed Tuesday morning in the U.S. trial of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman after a juror had to be dismissed.

The judge received a handwritten letter from juror No. 1's doctor, explaining she could not stay on the trial. The juror cried last week when she was selected, but Judge Brian Cogan refused to let her off.

Judge Cogan excused her Tuesday, fearing she could suffer from a breakdown....

Prosecutors say Guzman was in the habit of ordering the killings of anyone who got in his way during his heyday in Mexico as boss of the Sinaloa cartel.

In his way now is a lineup of government witnesses who survived the wave of violence and are expected to give details about the ruthless way he kept power for 20 years in the cutthroat world of international drug trafficking. The defense says the witnesses are the true bad guys whose testimony shouldn't be trusted.

The names of the witnesses have been blacked out on court documents with prosecutors saying their identities need to be protected because their cooperation could put them in the crosshairs of a vengeful cartel. According to court papers, some are being held in special jail units for their protection, while others are in witness protection programs.

The list of people who could turn up on the witness stand is long. Two standout possibilities are twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores, former Chicago-based narcotics wholesalers who did business with Guzman before their arrest in 2008. They agreed to cooperate and record phone conversations with Guzman about the size of shipments smuggled on boats and airplanes...."

Juror dismissed, opening statements delayed in 'El Chapo' trial in New York
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[YESorNO]

El Chapo's wife arrives in court

Nov 13, 2018

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El Chapo 'Always 1 Step Ahead' Says Ex-DEA Agent | TODAY

Nov 13, 2018

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Trial of drug lord "El Chapo" begins in Brooklyn after delay due to problem seating full jury

Nov 13, 2018

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[YESorNO]

Who Will Testify Against El Chapo at Trial?

Oct. 9, 2018

"For nearly two years, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have been promising to prove their case against Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo, by bringing a small army of witnesses into court to testify against him.

Given Mr. Guzmán’s history of violence — not to mention, the global reach of the Sinaloa drug cartel, which he ran for 20 years — the prosecutors have gone to extraordinary lengths to protect the witnesses, shrouding their identities in a thick veil of secrecy.

But public court documents and media reports have provided clues about which of Mr. Guzmán’s former allies, rivals and underlings might ultimately take the stand after his trial begins in Federal District Court in Brooklyn ...

Here is a look at a few of them...."

Who Will Testify Against El Chapo at Trial?
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[YESorNO]

Main witness against 'El Chapo' will be 'El Chapo,' prosecutor says (with clip)

"The feds revealed their main witness against Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera in opening arguments in his federal drug trafficking trial on Tuesday — "El Chapo" himself.

"For 25 years he sent massive quantities of drugs [into the United States] and ran a vast narcotics empire," assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Fels told jurors as the long-awaited Brooklyn federal court trial against the alleged Mexican drug lord got underway....

Prosecutors are also expected to use testimony from a dozen cooperating witnesses to prove their allegations that Guzman is the murderous head "of the largest drug drug trafficking organization in the world."

Guzman, 61, is standing trial on a 17-count indictment charging him with drug trafficking, murder conspiracy and money laundering.

His lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, focused on the cooperating witnesses in his opening statement — calling them "people who will make your skin crawl."

"Imagine a group of witnesses who have lied every day of their lives. They are killers, thieves, drug dealers," Lichtman said. "Why is the government using gutter human beings?"

He said the case will show that "government officials at the highest levels can be bribed and American law enforcement officials can be corrupt."

As for his client, Lichtman said he's been framed.

"Biggest drug dealer in the world! It's false. It's not true," he said,

"Why is he public enemy #1? Because 25 years ago a Mexican cardinal was shot by mistake at an airport and Guzman was the intended target. The corrupt Mexican government needed a scapegoat," Lichtman maintained. "They framed him for murder and that was the beginning of the mythological status and his myth grew."

"He's blamed for being the leader while the real leaders are living freely and openly in Mexico," he added...."

Main witness against 'El Chapo' will be 'El Chapo,' prosecutor says
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[Niner]

Wednesday, November 14th:
*Trial continues (Day 2) – NY – Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera (El Chapo) (~61) arrested & charged with smuggled 155 tons of cocaine into U.S. Sinaloa drug cartel chief. Guzmán faces 17-count indictment charging him with drug trafficking, murder conspiracy & money laundering spanning nearly three decades.
Prosecutors say Guzmán ran Mexico's Sinaloa cartel from 1989 to 2014. In that time, they allege the cartel brought cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine & marijuana into the U.S. Prosecutors also charged Guzmán in connection with the assassinations of thousands of competitors. Plead not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he faces life in prison.
Trial expected to last several months. Also for trafficking, conspiracy & firearms in California, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Florida & New York.
11/13/18 Day 1: Opening statements in the trial against “El Chapo” were delayed this morning after a juror who’d previously expressed reservations during jury selection was replaced by an alternate. A juror cried last week when she was selected & today the judge excused her, fearing she could suffer from a breakdown; juror excused ‘over anxiety’. That has delayed proceedings. It was unclear how long it might take to select a replacement, with a new juror expected to come from the original pool of 1,000 potential panelists who failed to make the cut. Opening statements are done. Trial continues on 11/14.

 

[YESorNO]

World News Tonight‏Verified account @ABCWorldNews 5h5 hours ago
‘EL CHAPO’ TRIAL BEGINS: Opening arguments are under way in a Brooklyn federal court in the trial of the notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman with security tight and one juror already dismissed. @DavidMuir reports. https://abcn.ws/2DDEUUi

(video clip: World News Tonight on Twitter )


TicToc by Bloomberg‏Verified account @tictoc 4h4 hours ago
LOOK: Sketches from Mexico's drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's trial in Brooklyn. His wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro is also featured in the sketches

(video clip: TicToc by Bloomberg on Twitter )
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[JerseyGirl]

As El Chapo trial opens, attorneys offer contrasting portraits of ‘mythological’ drug lord

 

[YESorNO]

Opening statements continue on day 2 of El Chapo trial in Brooklyn (with clip)

November 14, 2018

"DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN, Brooklyn -- The high-security trial of infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman got underway on Tuesday, but the opening statements will continue Wednesday...."

Opening statements continue on day 2 of El Chapo trial
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[YESorNO]

The Tornado News‏ @TheTornadoNews 12m12 minutes ago
Defense continues opening statements and testimony is set to begin in Brooklyn Federal Court at the trial of accused Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

The Tornado News‏ @TheTornadoNews 9m9 minutes ago
In arguably the biggest trial in the Borough since John Gotti in 1992, Hundreds wait in line outside of Brooklyn Federal Court to witness the trial of accused Mexican Drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

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[YESorNO]

• Lucy Anna Gray 14 November 2018 14:59

Prosecutors have asked judge Brian Cogan to strike the opening statement made by Joaquín Guzman's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, yesterday.

Prosecutors claim - in a letter sent to the judge - that Mr Lichtman tried to improperly sway the jury by arguing Guzman had been selectively targeted for prosecution, an argument the court had barred him from making.


14 November 2018 15:11
Prosecutors said the opening argument from Guzman's lawyer was "rife with impropriety," and their letter to Judge Cogan challenged more than 20 statements from it.

"Mr. Lichtman's opening statement was permeated with improper argument, unnoticed affirmative defences and inadmissible hearsay. The Court should strike it, and instruct the jury to disregard it."


14 November 2018 15:08
The government said its request concerned only the part of Mr Lichtman's opening statement heard so far, and would not deprive him of the ability to make an "appropriate" opening statement.


14 November 2018 15:15
In his opening statement yesterday, assistant US Attorney Adam Fels said: "Money. Drugs. Murder. ... That is what this case is about."


14 November 2018 15:19
'El Chapo's' lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman sought to shift blame in his opening statement to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, another reputed drug trafficker in the Sinaloa Cartel who is still at large in Mexico.

The lawyer claimed that unlike Guzman, Zambada remains on the loose because of bribes that "go up to the very top," including hundreds of millions of dollars paid to the current and former presidents of Mexico.

He also suggested US law enforcement turned a blind eye to the situation.
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[YESorNO]

• Lucy Anna Gray 14 November 2018 15:47

Mr Fels claimed that Guzman moved so much coke that just four of his shipments could provide "more than a line of cocaine for every single person in the United States."

 

[YESorNO]

Joaquin El Chapo Guzmán trial: Prosecutors want allegations against Peña Nieto thrown out

9:09 a.m. MT Nov. 14, 2018

"NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have asked the judge in the case against accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán to throw out the entire opening statement presented by a Guzmán defense lawyer.

The request came as Guzmán's trial was poised to enter its second day Wednesday. The trial of the alleged former leader of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel opened Tuesday under heavy security at Brooklyn federal court.

Prosecutors claim defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman failed to stick to the evidence in the case when he told jurors Tuesday that Guzmán was a fall guy for corrupt Mexican officials and a man he dubbed the world’s biggest drug dealer. Lichtman had argued that reputed drug trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada remained at large because he paid hundreds of millions of dollars to the current and former presidents of Mexico...."

Joaquin El Chapo Guzmán trial: Prosecutors want allegations against Peña Nieto thrown out
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U.S. Attorneys Move to Strike Everything El Chapo Defense’s Said in Their Opening Statement

10:59 am, November 14th, 2018

"Prosecutors in the U.S. government’s drug trafficking case against Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman filed a motion to strike the defense’s opening statement in a filing submitted late Tuesday afternoon....

“The Court recessed in the middle of the defendant’s opening statement, so this motion only pertains to the portion of the opening statement heard so far,” the filing notes. “Granting this motion, therefore, will not deprive the defense of the ability to make an opening statements; it will only require the defense to make an appropriate one. In any event, the defense should be admonished that the principles articulated herein should guide any remaining part of the opening.”"

U.S. Attorneys Move to Strike Everything El Chapo Defense’s Said in Their Opening Statement
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[YESorNO]

• Lucy Anna Gray 14 November 2018 15:53

Defence lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman sought to shift blame in his opening to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, another reputed drug trafficker in the cartel.

Mr Lichtman said of El Mayo: "He bribes the entire government of Mexico, including up to the very top, the current president of Mexico."

In his opening statement Mr Lichtman claimed El Mayo's brother and two sons are cooperating with the US government, and alleged that "they work together when it suits them, Mayo and the US government."
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[YESorNO]

• Lucy Anna Gray 14 November 2018 15:58

We are currently waiting to hear the judge's decision on the prosecutor's request to throw out the opening statement from El Chapo's defence team.

The statement accused Mexican presidents of being bribed by other Sinaloa Cartel leaders.

The defence branded the motion "entirely without merit".
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