“El Chapo” writes letter in English and asks Judge Cogan for fair treatment in the US

Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, former leader of the Sinaloa Cartelsent a letter written in English to federal judge Brian Cogan, in which he requests a fair treatment in the United States and exposes alleged violations of their constitutional rights during his confinement in ADX Florence maximum security prisonin Colorado.

The letter dated April 10 was received by the court on April 17. The document, written by hand and in English, takes up less than half a page. In itGuzmán Loera indicates that he is waiting for a response to his request for justice, invoking the United States First Amendmentrelated to the freedom of expression.

Letter in English and request for fair treatment

for the first timeGuzmán Loera wrote a message in Englishalthough with grammatical errors and unclear sentences. In the letter addressed to the Federal Court of Eastern New York, states that his extradition and trial should have adhered both to the Constitution of Mexico like at leyes of the United States.

“This is a courteous letter about my constitutional policy of Mexico regarding the authority of being extradited to the laws of the United States… so that I am given fair treatment in this country,” says “El Chapo” in the letter to Judge Cogan, who sentenced him in 2019 to life in prison.

It also refers to the First and Eighth Amendments of the United States Constitution, related to the freedom of expression and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

Conditions in ADX Florence prison

Currently, Guzmán Loera is being held in the ADX Florence maximum security prisonwhere inmates remain at least 23 hours a day in concrete cells of approximately 25 square meters, without human contact.

stays lowo Special Administrative Measures (SAMs), a extreme isolation regime for highly dangerous inmates, who limits communication, access to activities, and interaction with other inmates.

Its cell measures approximately 7 feet wide by 10 feet long, It has a concrete bed and chair, acoustic insulation and permanent surveillance by cameras.

Restrictions, visits and health status

Visits are highly restricted. Only your lawyer, Mariel Colonand sometimes his daughters can see him, under strict supervision.

Each exit from your cell involves the use of handcuffs, shackles and chains. He only has one hour a day to exercise or sunbathe in a cage surrounded by approximately 20-foot walls. meters.

Reports indicate that he has conditions such as high blood pressure, insomnia, memory loss, headaches, muscle cramps, and depressive episodes.

His defense has pointed out that he does not have access to a library, he cannot see his wife or other family members, and his access to information is limited to some Spanish-language television channels.

Signals and background

In the letter, Guzmán also mentions concern about the lack of evidence in your case and resumes previous complaints about mistreatment, lack of communication, inadequate nutrition and acts of torture during their detention.

However, it does not specifically detail what specific actions it considers to violate its rights.

Judge Brian Cogan has previously indicated that the prison conditions correspond to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and not to the court.

Context of his conviction

Joaquín Guzmán Loera was extradited to the United States in January 2017 and sentenced to life imprisonment on July 18, 2019. Since then he has been held in ADX Florence under a maximum security regime.

In recent years, both he and his defense have tried without success to modify his conditions of confinement through different legal remedies.

Keep reading:

• “Dániel Takács”, one of the 10 most wanted in Europe, is arrested in Mexico
• Mexico refuses to review protection promoted by “El Chapo” Guzmán for human rights violations in the US.
• Operation Black Swan: 10 years since the last capture of Chapo Guzmán
• Joaquín Guzmán López pleads guilty to drug trafficking after agreement with prosecutors
• Chapo Guzmán’s mental health is worrying due to extreme isolation, according to his lawyer