Emma Coronel Aispuro, 31, entered her plea in a federal court in Washington almost two years later Guzman was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in addition to drug trafficking and firearms fees as leader of the murderous Sinaloa Cartel.
A former beauty queen with a fascination with vogue, Coronel wore a green prison uniform and white face covering Thursday because she told US District Judge Rudolph Contreras — via an interpreter — she knew and accepted the conditions her plea agreement.
“Are you entering this plea as you are guilty and for no other motive ?” Contreras requested Coronel, for all those three counts.
“Si,” Coronel, a dual US-Mexican citizen, answered in Spanish.
Coronel was detained at February on global drug trafficking charges at Dulles International Airport and remained detained impending trial.Her lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, stated before the hearing that Coronel — who wed Guzman at 2007 — expected to some day get back for their young twin daughters.
“That is an arm’s length plea arrangement,” Lichtman said. “She is happy to take responsibility… (to) get on with her life.”
Attorney Mariel Colon, also representing Coronel, said of her customer’s plea:”The one thing I can tell you is that she is at peace with her decision.”
She will sentenced September 15.
“Plus it enabled Guzman to resume his leadership role at the Sinaloa Cartel and in doing so, furthered the cartel’s drug trafficking enterprise.”
Nardozzi said prosecutors had evidence and witness testimony showing Coronel’s involvement in the cartel from 2011 to 2017. Coronel often served as a go between for her husband and cartel associates while he had been incarcerated in Mexico, ” he said.
Nardozzi also stated there was evidence Coronel facilitated the trafficking of thousands of kilograms of narcotics, including heroin, cocaine and marijuana.
Coronel was a routine at her husband’s months-long trial in Brooklyn federal court in 2019, often exchanging waves and smiles using among the planet’s most feared drug lords.
New York tabloids frequently reported on her fashion choices and one day she and Guzman wore fitting velvet coats in court.
Following Guzman was convictedhe signed away the rights to his name to ensure Coronel could start an El Chapo-branded clothing line featuring his signature, based on Coronel’s lawyers.
“It is a project devoted to our brothers,” she told CNN in an announcement in March 2019.
The complaint at the time of Coronel’s arrest cited her alleged involvement in Guzman’s 2015 escape out of a Mexican prison.
The kingpin drastically escaped on a motorcycle through a tunnel that was dug to his cell at the Altiplano maximum security federal prison.
Coronel attracted messages from Guzman to the group that planned the breakout after visiting him in prison, according to testimony in his trial.
In 2001, Guzman also escaped out of now-closed Puente Grande prison hidden in a cart full of dirty laundry.
In February 2019, Guzman was convicted on 10 counts, including participating in a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to launder narcotics profits, global distribution of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and other drugs. He is serving his sentence in Colorado’s Supermax prison.
In Guzman’s trial, a working witness testified the Coronel and others worked together to coordinate details of Guzman’s final escape.
