Judge Orders Emma Coronel to Remain in Detention, Faces up to Life Imprisonment

Yaqui for Borderland Beat

                         

Federal Judge Robin Meriweather, of the Federal Court of the District of Columbia in Washington, determined this Tuesday, February 23, that Emma Coronel Aispuro, wife of Sinaloa capo Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, alias “El Chapo”, former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel , continue to be detained while her criminal process proceeds, pointing to her for her alleged participation in international drug trafficking.

The magistrate indicated in the initial hearing of this day, that if Coronel Aispuro - who appeared through a videoconference and using an interpreter - is found guilty, she would face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment, as well as a fine of $10 million dollars.

"She is here for a criminal complaint to distribute and import cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana into the United States," said Judge Meriweather, who commented that there was also the charge for "helping and implicating."

After that, the accusations were read to Colonel Aispuro. “If she were guilty,” the federal judge told "El Chapo's" wife, she could be assigned  “a minimum of 10 years in jail and even life imprisonment. A fine of $10 million dollars would also be imposed ”.

"Her rights are to remain silent, to be represented by a lawyer of her choice or by one of the court, she has the right to a trial and not to blame herself," added Magistrate Meriweather. For his part, the prosecutor Antonhy Nardozzi commented that “another relevant thing is that the case has not even been presented to a grand jury, something that will be done in the next few days and for that reason is that there is no formal accusation stating the charges".

Colonel Aispuro was left in the hands of the United States Marshals Service and without bail, for which she will be sent to the Alexandria city jail, in Virginia. The prosecution requested her permanent detention, alleging "risk of flight", since she has access to assets of the Sinaloa cartel and due to the fact that she does not "have anyone near the Washington area".

"The defendant worked closely with the criminal organization known as the Sinaloa Cartel," warned prosecutor Anthony Nardozzi, when requesting in the Federal Court that she be denied the right to go free by paying bail, adding that there is a risk that the cartel help you escape.

“Her husband, Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, was the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel before being extradited and convicted in the United States […] As stated in the criminal complaint, she is accused of conspiracy to import large quantities of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine, knowing that these substances would eventually be imported into the United States, ” added Nardozzi.

The prosecutor stressed that Guzmán Loera's wife "helped and was complicit in the objectives of the Sinaloa Cartel." However, lawyer Mariel Colón Miró announced that Coronel Aispuro would plead Not Guilty, which did not happen on Tuesday because the defense said it was not prepared to make a statement.

For his part, Jeffrey Lichtman, legal defender of Coronel Aispuro and also of "El Chapo", said that he will present a request for his client to be released on bail, although he granted that she continue to be temporarily detained, with No Bail, while the matter is discussed in another hearing. 

During the initial hearing - which began several minutes late due to technical problems - to read the rights and the accusations against "El Chapo's" wife, she affirmed that she did not suffer from any disease, nor had she taken any medication that prevented her from understanding what was being said to her. "I understood everything very well," Coronel Aispuro replied in Spanish.

“Do you swear to answer correctly and truthfully the questions that the judge will ask you? Do you swear to God? ”Asked a secretary of the Federal Court. "Yes," Colonel Aispuro replied, raising her right hand.

The former beauty queen, and mother of Guzmán Loera's two twin daughters, born nine years ago in the United States, was arrested on Monday, February 22, at Dulles International Airport, in the state of Virginia, near the American capital.

"According to court documents, Coronel Aispuro -who was born in California, USA, in 1989-, is accused of participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana for importation to the United States," said the Department Justice of the United States, in a statement.

"In addition, it is alleged that Coronel Aispuro conspired with others to help "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera in his escape from the El Altiplano prison, on July 11, 2015, located in Almoloya de Juárez, Mexico," the Department of Justice said. U.S.

"After Guzmán was arrested again in Mexico in January 2016, it is alleged that Coronel Aispuro became involved in planning another prison break with others prior to Guzmán's extradition to the United States in January 2017," added the US Government

“Colonel Aispuro is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, one thousand kilograms or more of marijuana, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine for illegal importation into the US. UU. ", Abounded the Department of Justice.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division and Deputy Director-in-Charge Steven D'Antuono of the FBI's Washington Field Office made the announcement. The FBI's Washington Field Office is investigating the case, ”the statement said.

Acting Deputy Chief Anthony Nardozzi and Trial Attorney Kate Wagner of the Department of Justice's Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is simply an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, "the US Government concluded.

On November 19, 2019, Colonel Aispuro affirmed that she could not do anything for her husband, since, according to her, the sentence that the United States authorities handed down was final. In addition, the woman indicated that before "El Chapo" was captured, he had projects underway, such as the launch of a clothing brand with the name of the Sinaloan capo.

"Most of the time I try to be positive and not get hooked on what has already happened, we can no longer do anything for him," he commented during his participation in the television reality show Cartel Crew, produced by the American pay chain VH1.

"I am very excited to start this project because it was an idea that we had when I was still free, I am trying to do what he wanted," added the wife of the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, who also regretted that people judge her without knowing her since, she said, despite the controversy surrounding her life, she considers herself a normal woman.

“Sometimes you want to do what you see everyone around you doing. I consider myself a normal woman and it happens a lot to me that people judge me without knowing me and many start attacking you and then you say 'I can't do this,' "said Coronel Aispuro.

The wife of "El Chapo" participated in the seventh episode of the "reality show", hosted by Michael Blanco, son of Ana Griselda Blanco Restrepo, alias "La Madrina de la Cocaína", a Colombian drug trafficker, leader of the Medellín Cartel. The television program premiered in January 2019, and tells the stories of relatives and people close to drug lords.

Mexican President Lopéz Obrador on the matter:

On the same day, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that the arrest of "El Chapo's" wife could be related to Genaro García Luna - former head of the Mexican Federal Public Security Secretariat, during the government of Felipe Calderón Hinojosa - who also is imprisoned in the United States.

During his morning press conference, the Mexican president commented that the United States authorities are possibly seeking to obtain more information about the relationship between the Sinaloa cartel and the former federal official, so it is a matter that corresponds to the Government of that country. 

“It is a matter that will be decided in the United States. They arrested her, her husband is detained. Add to  that Genaro García Luna who was Secretary of Security in the Government of Felipe Calderón is being detained, accused of receiving bribes from Mr. Guzmán Loera, perhaps that is why the detention that they want to have more information on how it was carried out, how the conspiracy was carried out , "said the Tabasco politician.

“It was not known where crime ended and authority began. It may be for that reason, and I hope that the United States Government will inform us more, but it is a matter that corresponds to them, ”said the head of the Mexican Federal Executive Power, ie the President of Mexico.

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Source: Zeta TJ / FBI DC Field Office / MND