Wife of Mexican Drug Lord “El Chapo” Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison

Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced the wife of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman to three years in prison and 48 months of supervised release.

Emma Coronel Aispuro, 32, pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of conspiring to distribute illegal drugs, conspiring to launder money and of engaging in financial dealings with the Sinaloa drug cartel.

“The defendant’s actual role was a minimal one,” prosecutor Anthony Nardozzi said. “The defendant acted primarily in support of her husband. The defendant acted upon his orders, which, in turn, furthered the interests of the criminal cartel. The defendant was not an organizer, leader, boss or other type of manager. Rather, she was a cog in a very large wheel of a criminal organization.”

Coronel Aispuro, a former beauty queen, avoided a minimum 10-year sentence since she had no prior convictions.