The Mexican drug lord known as “El Chapo” was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison plus thirty years at a hearing where he accused the U.S. government of corruption and of torturing him during his confinement.
El Chapo, whose real name is Joaquin Guzman Loera, also was ordered to forfeit $12.6 billion during his sentencing in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York.
Judge Brian Cogan, who cited what he called Guzman’s “overwhelming evil” in announcing the mandated sentence, will determine later how much he must pay in restitution.
Prosecutors said that Guzman was “uniquely deserving” of the harsh sentence.
“There were countless victims of his orders to kill,” prosecutor Gina Parlovecchio said. “He has shown no remorse.”
One of Guzman’s alleged victims, Andrea Velez Fernandez, spoke at the sentencing.
“Today I come here a miracle of god,” Velez Fernandez said. “Mr. Guzman used me as bait to kidnap someone in Ecuador. He offered one million dollars to Hells Angels to end my life. Fortunately I found out and escaped with the help of the FBI.”
Guzman ordered the woman killed after she attempted to bribe a high-ranking law enforcement official with $10 million on his behalf — an offer the man refused.
Previously there has been several references to Canadian cartel connections at the New York trial of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman including testimony by his former “right-hand man” in a January 2019 that the man hired Canadian Hells Angels to kill a drug dealer.
Sources: CNBC, NYPOST, Vancouver Sun