El Chapo’s Sentence Upheld in Federal Appeals Court

Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s conviction was upheld by a federal appeals court on Tuesday. 

Guzman had asked the court to overturn his conviction for multiple reasons. He cited the strict conditions of his confinement before his trial as a reason. He felt this left him inadequately prepared for trial.

“The District Court did not err in concluding that Guzman was able to assist in his own defense and receive a fair trial, despite the conditions of his pretrial confinement,” the decision handed down by the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals stated. “The conditions of Guzman’s pretrial confinement, harsh as they were, do not provide a basis for disturbing his conviction.”

In another argument for his release, the drug lord’s legal team argued there was potential juror misconduct. It stems from a VICE News article that quoted a juror who told the outlet that members of the jury had followed the news during the trial.

The appellate court determined “none of these claims has merit.”

Guzman’s attorney, Marc Fernich, expressed his disappointment with the decision in a statement on Tuesday. 

“While respecting the Court’s ruling, we’re disappointed that substantial allegations of grave jury misconduct continue to be swept under the rug and left wholly unexamined in a case of historic proportion — all, it appears, because of the defendant’s matchless notoriety,” he said. 

Guzman was sentenced to life in prison for his role as leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. He was convicted in a Brooklyn federal court for running a criminal empire, with charges that include murder conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, and more. 

El Chapo is currently serving out his sentence in the “supermax” federal prison, ADX Florence, in Florence, Colorado. He spends 23 days inside of a jail cell. 

In November, El Chapo’s wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for helping Guzman run the Mexican cartel.