‘El Chapo’ Trial Remains Cheerful as Jury Deliberations Anticipated to Extend into Second Week By Reuters

By Brendan Pierson

NEW YORK – Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the alleged Mexican drug kingpin, appeared in good spirits as the jury in his U.S. trial wrapped up its first week of deliberations on Thursday without reaching a verdict. He smiled broadly while embracing and fist-bumping his legal team.

U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan dismissed the 12 jurors, who looked fatigued, from federal court in Brooklyn around 4:15 p.m. They are set to resume their discussions on Monday morning.

Guzman, 61, faces charges of trafficking large quantities of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine into the United States as the leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel. He has escaped from Mexican prisons twice, and if found guilty in the U.S., he could be sentenced to life in prison.

The defense contends that Guzman was made a "fall guy" for Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, another drug kingpin from Sinaloa who is still at large. Despite Guzman’s seemingly positive attitude on Thursday, it remains unclear which direction the jury will ultimately lean.

Earlier that afternoon, the jury requested to review testimony from a key prosecution witness, Juan Carlos "Chupeta" Ramirez, regarding a series of purported cocaine shipments known as "Juanitas." Ramirez, having pleaded guilty to U.S. charges, testified that he sold Guzman large amounts of cocaine intended for export to the United States.

Judge Cogan informed the jurors that a transcript of Ramirez’s testimony would be available for them by Monday.

Ramirez was among over 50 witnesses who took the stand during the 11-week trial, providing an unprecedented insight into the operations of the Sinaloa Cartel, the organization tied to Guzman’s birthplace in northwestern Mexico.

Since commencing deliberations on Monday afternoon, the jurors have requested to review days of testimony from numerous witnesses, primarily former associates of Guzman who agreed to cooperate with U.S. authorities in exchange for leniency.

The jury faces the challenge of delivering verdicts on 10 criminal counts, including 27 criminal violations within one count. The charges encompass engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, international drug trafficking, and conspiracy for money laundering.