Mexican Drug Lord 'El Chapo' Claims Denied Contact with Twin Daughters in Prison

Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, the notorious Mexican drug lord serving a life sentence in a Colorado prison, has claimed that he has been denied phone calls and visits with his twin daughters for the past 7 months. Guzmán alleges that this is due to an FBI agent who is responsible for monitoring his communications and has been unresponsive.

Guzmán's lawyers have filed a motion in court seeking to address this issue, arguing that the restrictions on his contact with his daughters are unjustified and a violation of his rights. In a letter to the judge overseeing his case, Guzmán stated that this is "unjustified discrimination" and that he is being further punished by not being allowed to speak to his children.

The issue stems from the fact that Guzmán's phone calls are being monitored by the FBI, and prison officials say the FBI has not been responsive in allowing the calls to take place. Judge Brian M. Cogan has denied Guzmán's request to have his wife, Emma Coronel, visit him and bring their daughters, stating that the Bureau of Prisons is solely responsible for the conditions of his confinement and the judge has no power to intervene.

Why this matters: The case highlights the ongoing legal battles and challenges faced by Guzmán, who was extradited to the United States in 2017 and convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering, and other charges related to his leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world's most powerful drug trafficking organizations.

Guzmán, who is serving a life sentence plus 30 years, was convicted for running a large-scale drug smuggling operation and has a history of escaping from Mexican prisons. His son, Ovidio Guzmán López, has also been extradited to the U.S. to face drug trafficking and other charges.

The former Sinaloa Cartel leader's claims of being denied contact with his daughters add to the ongoing saga of his imprisonment and the consequences of his criminal activities. As Guzmán continues to serve his sentence in the maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado, the legal battle over his communication rights and prison conditions persists.

Key Takeaways

• El Chapo claims he's denied calls/visits with twin daughters for 7 months.
• El Chapo's lawyers argue the restrictions violate his rights; the judge denies request.
• El Chapo is serving life sentence plus 30 years for drug trafficking, money laundering.
• El Chapo's son Ovidio was also extradited to US to face drug trafficking charges.
• El Chapo continues a legal battle over communication rights, prison conditions in Colorado.