The DEA released the
below information:
WASHINGTON –
Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, known by various aliases, including “El
Chapo” and “El Rapido,” was convicted today by a federal jury in
Brooklyn, New York of being a principal operator of a continuing criminal
enterprise – the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa
Cartel – a charge that includes 26 drug-related violations and one murder
conspiracy. Guzman
Loera was convicted of all 10 counts of a superseding indictment,
including narcotics trafficking, using a firearm in furtherance of his
drug crimes and participating in a money laundering
conspiracy. The verdict followed a 12-week trial before
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan. Guzman Loera faces a mandatory
sentence of life imprisonment.
Acting
Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker, U.S. Department of
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Assistant Attorney
General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal
Division, U.S. Attorney
Richard P. Donoghue for the Eastern District of New York, U.S. Attorney
Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida, Acting
Administrator Uttam Dhillon of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), FBI Director Christopher Wray, Executive Associate Director Derek Benner of
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI) and Acting U.S. Marshal Bryan T. Mullee of the
Eastern District of New York, announced the verdict.
The Evidence at Trial:
As
proven at trial, Guzman Loera was a principal leader of the Sinaloa
Cartel, a Mexico-based international drug trafficking organization
responsible for importing and distributing vast quantities of cocaine,
marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States. The
evidence at trial, including testimony from 14 cooperating witnesses;
narcotics seizures totaling over 130,000 kilograms of cocaine and heroin;
weapons, including AK-47s and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher;
ledgers; text messages; videos; photographs and intercepted recordings,
detailed the drug trafficking activity of Guzman Loera and his
co-conspirators over a 25-year period from January 1989 until December
2014. Guzman Loera was repeatedly referred to by witnesses as one
of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Guzman Loera oversaw the smuggling of narcotics to wholesale distributors in
Arizona, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and elsewhere.
The billions of illicit dollars generated from drug sales in the United
States were then clandestinely transported back to Mexico. Guzman
Loera also used “sicarios,” or hit men, who carried out hundreds
of acts of violence in Mexico to enforce Sinaloa’s control of territories
and to eliminate those who posed a threat to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Drug Trafficking
In the
course of the decades-long drug trafficking conspiracy, the Sinaloa
Cartel transported tens of thousands of kilograms of narcotics from
Central and South America for distribution in the United States. Guzman
Loera used various methods to transport the cartel’s narcotics into the
United States, includingsubmarines,
carbon fiber airplanes, trains with secret compartments and transnational
underground tunnels. Multiple
witnesses testified about seizures by law enforcement officers of massive
amounts of cocaine, heroin and marijuana linked to the
Sinaloa Cartel. One of the largest seizures of drugs bound for the United
States involved over seven tons of cocaine concealed in jalapeño
cans.
The jury
also heard recordings of Guzman Loera’s own damning words
discussing his drug trafficking, corruption and violence. The calls
included Guzman Loera discussing sending “ice,” meaning methamphetamine,
to Los Angeles, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Ohio and Tucson,
Arizona.
Communications Network
Guzman
Loera also utilized a sophisticated encrypted communications network to
operate the global narcotics trafficking operation. As an
information technology engineer testified at trial, Guzman Loera paid him
one million dollars to purchase and set up a network to enable the
defendant to communicate via the internet with his drug trafficking
associates in Colombia, Ecuador, Canada and the United States without
fear of being intercepted by law enforcement or his rivals. The
witness devised a secret and secure system, consisting of encrypted cell
phones and encrypted apps.
Cartel Violence
The success of the Sinaloa Cartel relied upon the
use of violence to maintain their power throughout the region and
beyond. Numerous co-conspirators testified that Guzman Loera
directed his hitmen to kidnap, interrogate, torture and shoot members of
rival drug organizations, at times carrying out acts of violence
himself. A former hitman testified that Guzman Loera beat two men
with a tree branch until their bodies “were completely like rag dolls,”
before shooting the men and ordering their bodies be tossed into a
bonfire. The former hitman also testified that Guzman Loera
interrogated a rival drug cartel member, shot him and ordered that he be
buried alive. In an intercepted call, the jury heard Guzman Loera
order one of his sicariosto kidnap rival cartel members,
but not to kill them without first checking with him.
Weapons
The
Sinaloa Cartel had unfettered access to weapons. A law
enforcement witness showed the jury over 40 AK-47s that were seized in El
Paso, Texas before they could be delivered to Guzman Loera in
Mexico. Additionally, witnesses identifed photographs of various
weapons, including grenades and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher
utilized by the Sinaloa Cartel. Guzman Loera’s personal arsenal
included a gold plated AK-47 and three diamond-encrusted .38 caliber
handguns, one emblazoned with his initials, “JGL.”
Corruption
The
evidence presented at trial demonstrated that to further the interests of
the Sinaloa Cartel, Guzman Loera and his organization took advantage of a
vast network of corrupt government officials. These officials
ranged from local law enforcement officers, prison guards, state
officials, high ranking members of the armed forces, as well as
politicians. These corrupt officials assisted Guzman Loera and his
organization in exchange for millions of dollars’ worth of bribery
payments. For example, according to the testimony of several
witnesses, in many instances, Guzman Loera and his workers were warned of
pending law enforcement operations which allowed Guzman Loera to avoid
capture on multiple occasions. In other instances, Guzman Loera,
through his employees, paid officials to turn a blind eye to trafficking
activities in an effort to facilitate the shipment of drugs, weapons, and
bulk cash.
Money Laundering
Guzman
Loera’s lucrative drug trafficking business generated billions of dollars
in illicit proceeds. Guzman Loera used various methods to launder
money including bulk cash smuggling from the United States to
Mexico. One of the largest seizures was of $1.26 million seized
from hidden compartments in a truck driven by Guzman Loera’s brother in
Douglas, Arizona in 1989. In addition to the bulk cash smuggling,
Guzman Loera oversaw numerous shell companies, including a juice company
and a fish flour company to launder the cartel’s narcotics trafficking
proceeds.
“I
am pleased that the Department has brought Joaquin Guzman Loera (El
Chapo) to justice by securing a conviction against this drug kingpin, who
was a principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Acting Attorney General Whitaker.
“As was clear to the jury, Guzman Loera’s massive, multi-billion dollar
criminal enterprise was responsible for flooding the streets of the
United States with hundreds of tons of cocaine, as well as enormous
quantities of other dangerous drugs such as heroin and
methamphetamine. The trial evidence also overwhelmingly showed that
Guzman’s unceasing efforts to expand his cartel’s control and consolidate
its power left a wake of corruption and violence in communities in both
Mexico and the United States. This case demonstrated the
extraordinary reach of the U.S. government, our tenacity and commitment
to pursuing kingpins like Guzman whom — if their power is unchecked —
will, like Guzman, develop what for 25 years was an almost unstoppable
capacity to move massive quantities of drugs into our country.
Guzman had the capital to absorb huge losses and run his enterprise with
impunity; the enormous power to corrupt; and the capability to employ
violence on a massive scale. This case, and more importantly, this
conviction serves as an irrefutable message to the kingpins that remain
in Mexico, and those that aspire to be the next Chapo Guzman, that
eventually you will be apprehended and prosecuted. Finally, this
verdict demonstrates that the United States, working in close partnership
with the Mexican government, will continue to bring all possible
resources to bear in its fight against international drug traffickers and
their violent organizations.”
“Today’s
conviction of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman demonstrates the dedication and
determination of the men and women of DEA to bring the world’s most
dangerous and prolific drug trafficker to justice,” said DEA Acting
Administrator Dhillon. “Those who bring drugs and violence into the
United States that destroy lives and communities will not be tolerated,
nor evade our reach. The success of this case is a testament to the
strength of our relationship with our Mexican counterparts. DEA will
continue to pursue justice worldwide and protect Americans.”
“The guilty verdict against
Joaquin Guzman Loera, one of the most violent and feared drug kingpins of
our time, is a testament to the hard work and courage of America’s
frontline law enforcement personnel, including ICE’s Homeland Security
Investigations,” said DHS Secretary Nielsen. “They gathered
substantial evidence over multiple investigations, which made his
extradition to the United States and a successful prosecution
possible. Today’s verdict sends an unmistakable message to
transnational criminals: you cannot hide, you are not beyond our reach,
and we will find you and bring you to face justice. Like Guzman,
you will suffer the consequences of your criminal behavior. I
applaud the brave men and women at DHS who helped make this conviction
possible and thank our interagency and international partners for their
exceptional work.”
“Guzman
Loera’s bloody reign atop the Sinaloa Cartel has come to an end, and the
myth that he could not be brought to justice has been laid to rest,” said
U.S. Attorney Donoghue. “Today, Guzman Loera has been held
accountable for the tons of illegal narcotics he trafficked for more than
two decades, the murders he ordered and committed, and the billions of
dollars he reaped while causing incalculable pain and suffering to those
devastated by his drugs. Today’s verdict is the culmination of the
tireless work of countless brave members of law enforcement, here and
abroad, and we congratulate them. The Department of Justice is
committed to eradicating criminal organizations that fuel America’s drug
epidemic, and our mission will continue until it is completed.”
“The conviction of former Sinaloa
Cartel leader Joaquin Guzman Loera strips the power from a man who
employed horrific acts of violence to infect communities, throughout the
United States and abroad, with the venom of illicit drugs,” said U.S.
Attorney Fajardo Orshan. “Today’s verdict is a reminder to all,
that our international borders do not protect narco-traffickers and the
cartels’ criminal enterprises from federal prosecution. U.S.
Attorney’s Offices across the nation stand united with our domestic and
foreign law enforcement partners, as we continue our fight against
transnational criminal organizations.”
“The reign of Joaquin Guzman
Loera’s crime and violence has come to an end,” said FBI Director
Wray. “As leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, Guzman Loera carried out
and directed acts of brazen violence as he oversaw the import and
distribution of vast amounts of illegal drugs throughout the United
States. But today, through the steadfast determination and
collective efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners both
domestic and abroad, and due to our continuing partnership with the
Government of Mexico, justice has been served.”
“HSI is committed to using our unique border
authority to target and dismantle transnational criminal organizations
responsible for trafficking narcotics and bringing violence into the
United States,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Benner.
“Through collaboration with local, federal and international law
enforcement partners, HSI special agents were able to bring an end to
Joaquin Guzman Loera’s criminal activities, and help ensure he was
brought to justice.”
“The
conviction of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman demonstrates what is possible
when law enforcement works collectively and coordinates their efforts,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Mullee.
“The U.S. Marshals Service ensured the integrity of the judicial process
in this case. From providing safe and secure detention and
transportation of the world’s most notorious drug kingpin to ensuring the
anonymity of the jury, protecting the judge, attorneys, witnesses and the
public, the Marshals Service proudly played its important role in the
process. I would like to express my gratitude to all of our law
enforcement partners who worked tirelessly in support of our mission.
They are the talented men and women of the New York City Police
Department, Federal Protective Service, 24th Civil
Support Team of the New York National Guard, and the Federal Bureau of
Prisons. The U.S. Marshals take our responsibility of protecting
the federal judicial process very seriously. We must anticipate and
deter threats, while continuously developing and employing innovative
protective tactics. We carry out these responsibilities with
precision every day across the country. The successful prosecution
of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman stands as a shining example of our mission.”
When
sentenced by Judge Cogan, Guzman Loera faces a mandatory life sentence
without the possibility of parole for leading a continuing criminal
enterprise, and a sentence of up to life imprisonment on the seven
remaining drug counts. After the verdict, the government will seek
a forfeiture money judgment for billions of dollars constituting the
cartel’s illegal drug-trafficking proceeds.
The
government’s case is being prosecuted by U.S. Department of
Justice Trial Attorneys Amanda Liskamm, Anthony Nardozzi, Michael
Lang and Brett Reynolds of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous
Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gina Parlovecchio, Andrea Goldbarg,
Michael Robotti, Patricia Notopoulos and Hiral Mehta of the Eastern
District of New York and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Fels and Lynn
Kirkpatrick of the Southern District of Florida.
The case
was investigated by the DEA, HSI and the FBI, in cooperation with
Mexican, Ecuadorian, Netherlands, Dominican, and Colombian law
enforcement authorities. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S.
Attorneys’ Offices in the Northern District of Illinois, the Western
District of Texas, the Southern District of New York, the Southern
District of California and the District of New Hampshire. The
Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs also played an
integral role in securing the extradition of Guzman Loera to the United
States, in cooperation with authorities of the Mexican government,
without which his extradition and prosecution would not have been
possible. The investigative efforts in this case were coordinated
with the Department of Justice’s Special Operations Division, comprising
of agents, analysts and attorneys from the Criminal Division’s Narcotic
and Dangerous Drug Section; DEA New York, DEA Miami, FBI Washington Field
Office, FBI New York Field Office, FBI Miami Field Office; HSI New York,
HSI Nogales; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S.
Marshals Service; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Bureau of Prisons,
NYPD and New York State Police.
This
case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug
Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the
combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law
enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to
identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high level members of drug
trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and
enterprises.
You can also read my Washington Times review of Hunting El Chapo via the below link:
|
No comments:
Post a Comment