it’s the moment of truth for Joaquin Guzman…
Jurors began receiving instructions on federal law before beginning deliberations in the trial of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who the government claims to be the world’s most infamous drugs cartel bosses, in a Brooklyn federal court this morning.
Guzman, 61, is accused of leading Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, which became one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world. Guzman escaped twice from Mexican prisons and will face the possibility of life in prison in the U.S. if convicted.
The instructions by U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan are expected to last two or three hours, with jury deliberations to begin this afternoon.
Prosecutors said he trafficked tons of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine into the United States over the span of three decades, wielding his muscle in Mexico through murder and wars with rival cartels.
The defense argues that Chapo was set up as a “fall guy” by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a drug kingpin from Sinaloa who remains at large.
The jury to decide his fate is comprised of seven women and five men. Their names have not been disclosed for security reasons.
