BREAKING NEWS: There’s a verdict in the Chapo trial. We don’t know what yet. Stay tuned.
Chapo Guzmán: Guilty all counts.
In a total victory for the government, the jury found Chapo guilty of all 10 counts of the indictment. On the top criminal enterprise charge, the jury said prosecutors proved 25 out of 27 violations.
Chapo looked a little stunned sitting with his lawyers and listening to the guilty verdicts come in through translation. When the verdict was complete, Chapo glanced at his wife Emma Coronel. With tears in her eyes, she flashed him a thumbs up.
Fully armed US marshals in battle gear—helmets, night vision goggles, vests—are now stationed in the courtroom lobby.
Chapo’s sentencing is scheduled for June 25. He faces mandatory life in prison after the jury found YES on the three special questions attached to the top continuing criminal enterprise charge.
Brooklyn US Atty Rich Donoghue is expected to speak to the media soon. Chapo’s lawyers are visiting him briefly in he court holding cell. They too expect to speak to reporters.
Though reaching a verdict took longer than many had expected, this is a full triumph for prosecutors and their case.
Out of 53 boxes the jury had to check, they found against Chapo in 51 of them. The only two charges they could agree on were two of the 27 violations in the top charge of continuing criminal enterprise.
The 1st of those violations accused Chapo of shipping 19 tons of coke on the tanker Gatun that was seized by the US Coast Guard off the shores of Panama in March 2007. The 2nd alleged he smuggled 409 kgs of weed in panga boats that were captured in SoCal in January 2012.
Other than that, the jury found Chapo guilty of the CCE, 7 drug conspiracy counts, a charge of using firearms to further his drug operation and a money laundering charge.
Donoghue called the verdict a victory for US law enforcement, for Mexico where 100k people had lost their lives to drug violence and for families who had lost someone to “the black hole of addiction.”
“There are those who say the war on drugs is not worth fighting,” he said. “Those people are wrong.”
Better late than never, but a big a shout out to @USMarshalsGov and EDNY court security officers for their patience and hard work at the Chapo trial serving under extremely difficult circumstances. Thanks for everything.
