Posted on 05/05/2017 7:01:32 PM PDT by COBOL2Java
NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. judge on Friday set an April 2018 trial date for Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman on charges he oversaw a multibillion-dollar international drug trafficking organization responsible for murders and kidnappings.
U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan first suggested during a pretrial hearing in Brooklyn that a trial could occur earlier next year, but he settled on April 16 after acknowledging the difficulty defense lawyers are having communicating with Guzman in a federal lockup in Manhattan where he is subjected to solitary confinement.
Defense lawyers complained they are separated by glass or a screen from Guzman during meetings, hindering communications. The judge said the matter will be investigated.
In a written ruling a day earlier, Cogan let the government keep most restrictions in place for a defendant famous for twice escaping from prison in Mexico, including once through a milelong tunnel stretching from the shower in his cell.
The U.S. government has said severe restrictions are necessary for Guzman in part because he used coded messages, bribes and other means to arrange escapes and continue directing his drug empire from behind bars.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtop.com ...
They should only allow typed messages, no envelopes, between that demon and his lawyers.
He should just say he didn’t intend to break the law.......
A neighbor suggest we show him the door and then shoot him for trying to escape. Sure would save some money.
But drugs are a victimless crime. If they would just legalize it, I am certain he would become a productive citizen and make massive contributions in the way of tax revenue.
Great, just what we need: coddle, medicate & house this clown
for 40 more years at tax payers expense.
How much will that cost? A million if he lives 10 more years?
shoot him dead and toss his body in the desert for the real coyotes
Excellent. A major Trump victory on the war on drugs will be on full display months before the election.
“Great, just what we need: coddle, medicate & house this clown
for 40 more years at tax payers expense.”
Not if we are able to confiscate the reported $14 billion he has stashed somewhere.
It will be a lot more, if he demands a sex change operation.
This is one jury I’d prefer to NOT be on.
Do, you suppose he will try to escape? Surely he is thinking about it. Nothing is impossible with the money he has.
Absolutely he would. With $12B in assets, people would do anything to “help”.
I wonder if anyone has ever said to him:
"Hey, you gotta be Jokin!"
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