Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
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Thursday, January 31, 2019

El Chapo Trial: Lichtman asks in closing; "Would you let a Cifuentes babysit your children?" Your baby "would be sold for a kilo of cocaine."

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat-material from Alan Feuer and Keegan Hamilton

Defense closing by Jeffery Lichtman 
[Digusting] Lichtman posted this image on screen from the projector; Suggesting anyone looking like that  would be mistaken for Chapo by the government: "It could have been Frito Bandito and they would have blamed it on Mr. Guzman."


Dramatic Closing End: 

Lichtman's closing statement ends with his voice trembling as he implores the jury: "You don't have to give into the myth of El Chapo and just convict."


Afterward, Chapo gripped his shoulder and gave him an enthusiastic handshake, signaling his approval.


The theme of the defense closing, orchestrated by Jeffery Lichtman, is that there is one leader and only one leader of the Sinaloa Cartel and that is El Mayo Zambada.


The theme is the same as we have heard sewn with bits and pieces through the testimony thread of the trial, but not ever really brought home as it should have been. 

As I discovered, there are PGR documents, exposed by Proceso and La Jornada that actually support this notion.  Saying Mayo was the true leader, and Chapo was a figure head to distract police agencies away from Mayo.

But of course the jury knows nothing of that.

In closing Lichtman said about the “ conspiracy plot against Chapo, "It's a brilliant plan for El Mayo Zambada and it has worked flawlessly for decades now."

Regarding Chapo’s escapes; "Who's to say it was Mr. Guzman not Mayo Zambada who paid for his freedom, all the way up to the president's office." calling EPN "as crooked as all the other law enforcement and politicians" in Mexico.- another missed opportunity, explain to the jury prison escape in Mexico is not unlawful and regarded as a natural instinct. 

In the beginning, there were 17 counts, now there are 9.

Defense Plan

Attack and impeach witnesses, especially cooperative witnesses as liars.  Which they should have done more of during case in chief. The proof was out there.

Or drive home how miscreant the cooperative witnesses are.  They did a decent job with this but it seemed lacking, such as the Javier Valdez murder.  That began with a great line of questioning; even the two part newspaper article by RioDoce pointing the finger at Damaso and Son for the murder, but Cogan cut that short.  That was wrong.  Jurors must be confused over that dialog. 

Zambadas-El Rey Serafin and Vicente
From Alan Feuer:

Lichtman added a few variations this time. Mayo's brother, Rey, and two of his sons, Serafin and Vicente, cooperated w/US authorities (Rey and Vicente testified at the trial) and Lichtman suggested this was a family strategy--that the Zambada's use cooperation as "a tool."

Serafin got a 5.5 year sentence. Lichtman suggested if Rey & Vicente got equally light sentences and were ultimately freed, it was a price worth paying.

He asked the jury if they'd spend 5 years in prison in order to return to a billion-dollar fortune. "It's not crazy," he said.

Lichtman also mentioned a bombshell trial moment: the $100 million bribe Chapo allegedly paid to former Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto. He said Mayo paid it. His evidence?

Chapo didn't seem to get anything from it and was hunted during Pena Nieto's term. Also he was broke.

Lichtman's claims are supported by some facts. Mayo hasn't been caught while nearly everyone around has been--or is dead. It's true his family cooperated but the US still hasn't found him. It also seems true Chapo was in debt when he allegedly bribed EPN.

Lichtman explains why he asked Alex Cifuentes about the alleged bribe to EPN on cross-examination: "Why is this idiot lawyer eliciting this information about his client bribing the president of Mexico?… I knew he would blame Mr. Guzmán."

Jorge and Alex Cifuentes Villas
Lichtman savaging cooperators is top-notch entertainment. He reserved the best of ire for Alex and Jorge Cifuentes, the Colombian brothers who worked with and for Chapo for years.

Would you buy a used car from a Cifuentes? He asked the jury.

Would you let a Cifuentes babysit your children?

If so, he said, the car would break down the second it was off the lot and your baby "would be sold for a kilo of cocaine."

He re-read testimony where Alex admitted he'd lied to co-workers, friends, family, law enforcement agents, immigration officials, girlfriends and his own wife.

Q: You lied about Mr. Guzman, didn't you?
A: No, sir.
Q: He's the only person you didn't lie about?
A: That's right, sir


Lichtman, also using (some) facts, argued that Chapo had been wrongfully accused as early as 1993 when he was blamed for murdering the beloved Cardinal Ocampo at the Guadalajara airport--a killing several government  witnesses said was in fact committed by the Arellano Felix brothers.

Chapo later escaped prison (the 1st time), [from Jalisco in the infamous laundry basket] he said, not because he feared extradition, as govt witnesses claimed, but rather because he feared for his life. By Lichtman's account, Chapo--unlike Mayo--was then "hunted like an animal" for years (the rabbit metaphor came up again.)

Lichtman mentioned a story by Vicente Zambada who said DEA was able to reach his father while he was in prison. Agents plucked Vicente from his cell in Chicago and  put him on the phone w/Mayo. If the feds could find Mayo that way, why not arrest him, he said.


"The Mexicans [gov] don't want Mayo arrested," Lichtman said, "respectfully, because he's paying them huge bribes."


"So who takes the fall?" The famous Chapo, who can't keep his mouth shut when he goes on TV interviews."  His 50-50 partner, Mayo, has been interviewed by Proceso, but has never been arrested, leading a mostly private life.


"He's smiling, somewhere," Lichtman said of Mayo. "Just not here."

Conspiracy

The no single conspiracy argument seems stronger. There's ample evidence the cartel wasn't a top-down cohesive entity but rather a loose band of constantly warring criminal partners. The jurors have to find that Chapo committed at least 3 crimes with at least 5 other people.

Lichtman is of course attempting to sow doubt that the Sinaloa cartel was a cohesive criminal unit--and that Mayo ran it, not Chapo.


Lichtman Admonitions

Tally of admonitions given to Lichtman by Judge Cogan, so far: 4

His reprimands were for; “coarse language”, for the accusation of government torture, accusing the government of encouraging witnesses to lie, and that one witness had someone killed [Javier Valdez?]


So what’s the problem I ask?


(He confessed to having "a potty mouth.") That didn't stop him from mentioning repeatedly that Pedro Flores, Chapo's top US distributor, had sex--twice--with his wife in government  custody.


Lichtman in comparing Pedro Flores having sex with his wife while in custody to Chapo;

"Mr. Guzman can't hug his daughters," Lichtman said. "He's a human being too. He's has feelings too."


I wonder how a juror perceives the constant and seemingly abrupt halt to questions and statements by the defense. 


Memorable [?] Lichtman quotes without context:
  • "Pure unadulterated gibberish"
  • "Any of you old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, 'Who's on Third?'
  • "He killed like a zillion of them"
  • "This is Mexico, this isn't Mars"
  • "He's a human being too, he has feelings too."
From Keegan Hamilton:

Lichtman on the attempted grenade attack on Miguel Martinez: "It's like when I watched Batman as a kid, the Penguin and the Joker would go through all these machinations to kill Batman. Why don't you just take a gun and shoot him?!"

Lichtman on Chupeta: "he's a bottomless pit of immorality… this guy — you're changing your underwear he's killing people… he butchered his face — and his ears — to avoid getting caught.… that's what a real drug kingpin looks like — that guy is scary."

Lichtman on Lucero Sanchez: "A 21-year-old girl hunting down cut-rate marijuana deals… that doesn't sound like the head of the Sinaloa cartel. If that's the head of the Sinaloa cartel, we've got problems."

It’s really Mayo not Chapo’s Voice

Lichtman also took the Mayo conspiracy to a whole new level. He suggested all of the wiretapped phone calls were actually Mayo's voice and not Chapo's:

"What the government is hiding from you is the voice on those tapes could be anyone — it could be Mayo Zambada — who knows."

Then Litchman turned to the torture tape depicting a man in a black cap.  But an agent "whose never met, seen or heard Mr. Guzmán in his life says it is him on the tape.”


He flashed a black cap on a screen, then El Mayo in a black cap. "Oops," he said.

Dramatic Closing End

Lichtman's closing statement ends with his voice trembling as he implores the jury: "You don't have to give into the myth of El Chapo and just convict." He asked the jury to “look past the myth" and into their own hearts where he hoped they would find---doubt. He urged them to hold onto that doubt.

Afterward, Chapo gripped his shoulder and gave him an enthusiastic handshake, signaling his approval.

He better be pleased—he hand picked him for the closing. 

Rebuttal 

Most effective bit from the government’s rebuttal had to do with the cooperators: “we did not pick these people, Chapo Guzmán picked these people… you know a man by the company he keeps, ladies and gentlemen this is the company he keeps.” [source Hamilton]


Another one, on the defense claims about a plot against Chapo: “The government is not on trial, the defendant is. Don’t let them distract you from that fact.”


And finally, on Chapo: “He’s not a made up myth or an inflated presence that we keep hearing about. This is reality.”

Government rebuttal next---then jury instructions and deliberations began on Monday

91 comments:

  1. Brilliant coverage chivis

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  2. Would you let chapo babysit your kids? Lol

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    Replies
    1. I would say yes he seems to love kids unlike Mencho lol

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    2. Why not? He's babysitting Emma.

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    3. Chapo did allude to not not killing innocent people so maybe.

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    4. ya that babysitting line was weak. lichtman sounds like an angry drunk frat boy trying to make a point but nobody cares to listen or take it seriously.

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  3. "In closing Lichtman said about the “ conspiracy plot against Chapo, "It's a brilliant plan for El Mayo Zambada and it has worked flawlessly for decades now."

    Regarding Chapo’s escapes; "Who's to say it was Mr. Guzman not Mayo Zambada who paid for his freedom, all the way up to the president's office." calling EPN "as crooked as all the other law enforcement and politicians" in Mexico.- "

    Save some dignity Joaquin...

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  4. Damn, mayito gordo hasn't aged well.

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    Replies
    1. He's not in the pictures.

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    2. the first one is Rey Zambada, lmaooo

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    3. Rey zumbada looks like a future mayo gordo

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  5. LMAO el Mayo orchestrated his 2015 escape????

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  6. the prosecution's rebuttal will be epic!! going for the jugular!

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  7. Yes. Let the poor innocent angel Chapo go. It is not his fault HE was caught and not Mayo. Had it been the other way around Chapos attorneys would have said the same thing about Chapo.
    B.S. is all.

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  8. Leche Santa Monica de Ismael Zambada was a savvy business blueprint copied from Pedro Zaragoza de Cd. Juarez Chihuahua and is one of the most powerful families in all of Mexico. Which is one of the reasons Sinaloa was not able to get through. My ex is a niece of the Zaragoza family. Nevertheless, many will never understand how MZ has held it down because most are to guillable and naive. From Culiacan to Mazatlan all that land is from a prestigious agriculture entrepreneurs who also invest in the dope game. All under MZ. All professional and loyal like the old days. It is when work goes to Mazatlan or Culiacan that it gets cut and that is where most of the violence occurs do to lack of principles/loyalty. The reason why MZ is free is because without someone respected like him Sinaloa Sonora would be bad like areas in Guerrero, Michoacan, Guanajuato etc. Most is common sense. By the way MZ does not condone extortions, kidnapping and/human trafficking like other organizations.

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    1. As someone who was raised in El Salado I can tell you this is the most accurate comment I have read about MZ. Well stated my fried.

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    2. I can second that.....vamonos pala candelaria ✌

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    3. The comments are always super interesting on this blog; a lot of bluster, silly humor and once ina while someone who actually knows something spills it just a little. Like 1:23 above. Amazing coverage of the trial - Should win a journalism prize.

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    4. All this coverage was seen on many other news outlets

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    5. why are you here? Yes, that's why asshole

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    6. One quibble with what you wrote, Sonora is bad.

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    7. Sinaloa Sonora and Baja are controlled by Mayo. Its full of tweekers and tecolines. These are the most repressive and brutal states in all of Mexico. Sinaloa is one of the poorest states with one of the lowest education levels. Es tierra de bandidos. If Chinola is how it is because of Mayo, then you need to get rid of him because he is doing a shitty job

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    8. The reason sinalia is not like michoacan or guanajuato is because cds and Beltranes have a truce but once in a while kill each other. Michoacan is violent because that land is very fertile and it has the biggest port in the western hemisphere, it's the perfect plaza for cartels and will always be fought over.
      The area that is prestigious for sinaloas is in the golden triangle and it's always fought over too but unlike sinaloas, michoacanos have no truce and kill each other on site. Michoacanos are more violent and that's why they take Sinaloa plazas so frequent

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  9. I love this blog, thanks for the great coverage of the trial

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  10. WTF? lichtman is a clown using those cartoons. next la raza will protest it is racist. but for once they would be correct

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  11. Maybe there was no $100M bribe?

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  12. If it isn't Chapo's voice, why didn't he hire an expert to refute that narrative during that half an hr defense? It would have been more clear to jurors.

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  13. imagine having to spend a whole weekend wondering your fate

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    1. News outlets: Juicio de El Chapo: Chapo es una victima del Mayo Zambada

      .________.

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  14. I Hurd a Arellano Felix got wacked in San Luis Rio Colorado.. they just finshed a big house of his their

    eLxBarrett

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    1. It’s funny because they always seem to build huge houses. But always get killed before they get to
      Live in them

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    2. 6:32 they build house where they will rest forever like jardines del humaya.

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  15. El Chapo will be in Culiacan Sinaloa shortly . A las buenas o las malas

    El Six GN

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    1. You are correct. He will be in Culiacán, but the highlight is he will be in a pine box.

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  16. lol he couldn't discredit pedro. who cares if he had sex w his wife. chapo escaped from prison twice thats why he is not allowed visitors ya jackass.

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    1. I think the point is that is was ALLOWED to have sex with his wife by DEA agents who were supposed to be detaining him

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    2. fomentando los lazos familiares...

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    3. I can't see the jury even caring about that. Let alone wanting to say well "that's a good point lichtman". I think it It was irrelevant to the case

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  17. So what crime is US GOV is trying to convict El Chapo with?
    Drug lord, murder, money laundering etc... and whats El chapo’s lawyers defense... trying to convince the jurors that he’s not the leader of CDS
    this trail makes no sense I’m confused

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    1. What the hell are you talking about?? You should not be assisted with those moronic questuons, if you cant understand this trial. Your confusion is well earned jackass

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  18. Mainstream media coverage

    Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/2244c3535c8f487cb2645f6ed8ab7840

    CNN
    https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/31/us/el-chapo-guzman-trial-defense-closing/index.html

    CBS
    https://www.cbsnews.com/video/el-chapo-trial-defense-gives-closing-arguments-verdict-could-come-next-week/

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  19. Anyone have the torture video where mayo and chapo are together? A link ?

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    1. Didn't know one existed

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    2. it doesn't they are talking about the El Guacho Rincon video

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  20. Mr. Lichtman has made a beautiful case in defense of Chapo's innocence. Their is no collusion between Chapo and Uncle Sam but plenty with Zambada. Hopefully, the jury will see clearly that this is a pony show trial put on by the USGOV. Everyone else knows he is just a simple farmer from the sierra. No porque sea de la sierra significa que es traficante vale.

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  21. Let's keep our fingers crossed in hopes chapo is aquitted.

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    1. Finally something I can back up!! Too many party poopers in this place!! We need more optimism!! KEEP CHAPO FREE!! cant keep a good guy down!!

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    2. Sorry to inform you, but the evidence found on the kingpin, will keep him locked up, how many years possibly 20.

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    3. 123 you're a very dumb person lol I'm not even going to try and church it up. Just plain old regular dumb as a doorknob lol

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    4. What evidence it was all just a bunch of lies made up by criminal witnesses and a lot of hearsay.

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  22. Hey chivis thanks for the hawk eye coverage, wondering how you get these many details of the trial. Loved your reporting way, keep up the good work buddy. Sad that chapo is being portrayed as leader when he is in fact 3rd leader under mayo and azul

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    1. Thank you! I am lucky to have some great sources. That said, the issue with Chapo being a figure head was hard to disprove and easily proven by the feds. However, as I have said the proof is out there in PGR documents. Although mexico is supposed to have transparency I doubt they want to help Chapo.

      A story: do you know why Mochomo rec a life sentenced? actually real time life. Going home in a pine box life. It is all because the gov says he was the leader of BLO. he pleaded guilty, with no deal but told the court "but your honor I was not the leader" He said his brother was, meaning Arturo. which is a fact. so because he would not say he was leader the judge said he was not taking full responsibility and gave him life. there is no parole in the federal system so he will not go up for parole where one could take responsibility.

      It should have said "yes your honor I ran the whole fucking thing" and he would have been out one day. he was only 35 when arrested.

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    2. Mochomo got the ultimate shaft. Just think.....Osiel could be out..even 40...way worse dudes.

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    3. What you said is right chivis, it’s hard to prove. Btw did Alfredo become a cooperative witness ? No news about him wrt chapo trial. This trial is so interesting although I’m an Indian. I heard Indians (especially South Indians) here get stuffs from Mexico too but nobody aware of what’s going on in Mexico. Do you think mayo still alive ? Being so aged is probable he might have retired off stage(though not possible)

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    4. Alfredo has never been a cooperative witness and refused to make a deal with the government in exchange for his testimony.

      That could change. Javier Arellano felix received a life sentence and also refused a deal. he was sent supermax ADX Florence.

      In June 2015, his sentence was reduced to 23 1/2 years for cooperation with authorities during his incarceration.

      I had speculated that alfredo may take the stand, called by the defense, because at the time there was a witness that was to be called that was incarcerated. But I sent a message to him through his good friend and former cell mate and he said no he was not going to testify in the chapo case.

      I have no proof, but yes I believe El Mayo is alive. as for lack of knowledge of the mexican narco war, most Americans no little to nothing and it grossly effects us.

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    5. El mochomo es el ÚNICO Mvp de todas estas lacras

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    6. Chivis what is going on with Benjamin AF? What is his sentence and did he turn into an informant?

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    7. Is Javier Arellano still in adx? Where is benjamin locked up?

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    8. Osiel is doing 25 years at adx could you imagine that he’s been sitting alone in his cell for years and years to come I doubt he has much people visiting or writting him must be pretty fucking depressing. Wounder when he’s out cdg will accept him back

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    9. Damn thats fucked up im bout to turn 35 cant imagine being locked up the rest of my life is there anything he can do to change the verdict chivis seems he took it like a man but as far as i have heard and i have friends that know things that he was not as bad as the other guys and as far as Mayo if he passes away shits going to get worse since Rafa is staying out of the business.

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    10. 1:15 Osiel ended up at ADX Florence for his own mistakes. I read from an article posted a few years back that Osiel was originally imprisoned in a medium security prison in Florida with relatively comfortable privileges (walking the halls without restraints, eating meals with general population, regular phone calls, etc) after being sentenced but pissed that all away when the feds found out he was still running (or trying to) CDG via phone calls and letters and that he was supposedly trying to bribe inmates and guards in order to take over the prison. This apparently made the feds worried that he would plan an escape. So without warning, he was taken from that prison and immediately taken to ADX.

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  23. El Chapo is dead either if he wins or loses

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  24. If u honestly believe chapo was not one of the leaders of cds,then i got some land to sell u on the okie fonookie swamp!!!

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    1. Niiiicceee, I’ll take the land. Send me your routing and account number so I can deposit the money.

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  25. THANK YOU! To all who helped with info during this trial.

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    1. X10000000 best coverage y chivis 2020 u go gurl heyyy!!!

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    2. This is not the best coverage lol

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    3. 740 that's your opinion. Anyone who has followed this site prior to the trial has a clear understanding of the narco world. More precise than you ever will. So as you saw just a small percentage presented to you in this trial, we saw the big picture . I thank chivis and big bugs and yaqui for keeping us informed. All you newbies are only here cuz of the trial, yous have no knowledge of the narco world. Definitely not enough to form an articulate opinion. I've been here for 6byears gracias Mi chivis

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  26. Chivis, wow...... never heard you ever utter a bad word and now you throwing f bombs lol it’s all good. You doing excellent coverage you should be contracted by like cnn or some other news outlet to be the narco news voice of reason and update the gringos with the inside scoop. My question to you Mrs. chivis is why you think people love Sinaloa cartel more then any other cartel? I mean they get the most comments in the stories written on this platform all the time? I would include myself. Anyways big fan of yours for over 8 or 9 years never thought of replying till now I guess I’ll call myself..........Bakersfield

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    1. jajaja well I did think twice about it, but sometimes the F-Bomb is the best word to use. It is versatile, right? It's a great exclamation when making a point- it also is a verb, noun, and adjective.

      I have no clue why people choose ANY cartel to love. Makes no sense to me. This is not basketball, or football, but some followers treat it that way. That is somewhat disturbing.

      GO RAMS!!!!

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    2. Fucj yes chivis a rams fan

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    3. 12:27 now days evry body is, talk bout band wagon

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    4. Y los Patriotas apa

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  27. Not Guilty on every count the Jury say. Chapo returns to his billions and retires. That would be something else.

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    1. You did not put in. Just my opinion.

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    2. LOL its not that easy- chapo isnt getting out- if he beats every charge against him (which he wont) he has indictments in like 6 other us cities- all for the same shit as this trial- now if he beats this 1, he has like 6 more trials,and the fed gov convicts like 93%- so you do the odds- and with how shitty litchman was this trial, chapo shouldve just pled guilty- his defense was that there was no defense- lol-

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  28. Chivas do you think the jury got payed?

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    Replies
    1. Yes they got paid...From their jobs if they have one.lol

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  29. Will there be a mistrial

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  30. chapo did all those crimes in Mexico why should he be tryed here? Along with everyone else who does crime in Mexico

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    Replies
    1. Because the U.S. likes to be the policeman of the world and play Superman when it comes to "crime". I've always found it stupid how the #1 drug consuming country in the entire world hunts down and punishes the people who only supply what they demand.

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    2. Damn!!!! Very true

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  31. BB did a FANTASTIC job reporting on this story.

    This article is pretty good, of all the mainstream press prob the best.

    https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/02/the-dirty-secret-of-el-chapo-downfall

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  32. chivis 2020
    THE BEST chapo trial reporting ignore the troll

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  33. Only pendejos think chapo has a chance. I've been in two trials and know better.. just saying...

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    Replies
    1. Calmate la juesa de caso cerrado no cuenta.

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