Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman found guilty in U.S. court
- 5 years ago
A U.S. court has found the world's most infamous drug lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, guilty of all 10 federal counts against him.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… what's the latest?
Well Mark… Tuesday's ruling by a court in New York came after an 11-week trial.
Guzman was convicted on numerous counts, including the distribution of cocaine and heroin, illegal firearms possession and money laundering.
He is yet to be sentenced, but is likely to face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Guzman's lawyers said they will be appealing.
His trial had been packed with tales of gruesome killings, political payoffs and diverse drug-trafficking methods.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York hailed the ruling.
"This conviction is a victory for the American people who have suffered so long and so much while Guzman made billions pouring poison over our southern border. This conviction is a victory for the Mexican people who have lost more than one hundred thousand lives in drug related violence……"
El Chapo is the head of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, which is believed to be the largest supplier of drugs to the U.S.
Prosecutors said it sent the equivalent of a line of cocaine for every person in America in just four drug shipments.
The 61-year-old rose from poverty in rural Mexico to become one of the richest men in the world.
He consolidated power by paying huge bribes to political heavyweights, including former Mexican presidents.
He escaped from a Mexican prison in 2001 in a laundry cart and again in 2015 through a tunnel.
He was recaptured in 2016 and was extradited to the U.S. last year.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… what's the latest?
Well Mark… Tuesday's ruling by a court in New York came after an 11-week trial.
Guzman was convicted on numerous counts, including the distribution of cocaine and heroin, illegal firearms possession and money laundering.
He is yet to be sentenced, but is likely to face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Guzman's lawyers said they will be appealing.
His trial had been packed with tales of gruesome killings, political payoffs and diverse drug-trafficking methods.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York hailed the ruling.
"This conviction is a victory for the American people who have suffered so long and so much while Guzman made billions pouring poison over our southern border. This conviction is a victory for the Mexican people who have lost more than one hundred thousand lives in drug related violence……"
El Chapo is the head of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, which is believed to be the largest supplier of drugs to the U.S.
Prosecutors said it sent the equivalent of a line of cocaine for every person in America in just four drug shipments.
The 61-year-old rose from poverty in rural Mexico to become one of the richest men in the world.
He consolidated power by paying huge bribes to political heavyweights, including former Mexican presidents.
He escaped from a Mexican prison in 2001 in a laundry cart and again in 2015 through a tunnel.
He was recaptured in 2016 and was extradited to the U.S. last year.