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Joaquin Guzman's "El Chapo" Loera trial is about to begin Monday in New York, but his billion dollar drug empire has continued to flourish despite his capture.
A recent letter from the US Attorney General's Office preparing to hear the case of the king of drugs clearly stated that "the accused's sons remain responsible for his vast empire of drug trafficking." New York Post reported.
Although El Chapo has been in custody since 2016, after a series of arrests and escapes, the Mexican cartel empire remains powerful and well controlled in its absence. The sons Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, alias Alfredo, reportedly led the operation. Their reach and influence are always extremely dangerous, according to the judge who tried the case of their father.
RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP / Getty Images
"There is no doubt that the defendant and his cartel have the ability, the resources and the will to harm witnesses and their families, even after their resettlement," warned federal judge Brian Cogan.
Former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers said the two brothers had committed significant acts of violence, including ambushing military personnel. Currently, Alfredo has received a $ 5 million reward for any information leading to his capture. He is also on the list of the 10 most wanted by the DEA.
Until recently, the brothers have even posted their wealth on social media, according to the NY Post . Pictures of expensive sports cars, stacks of tickets, machine guns, luxury items and parties were regularly shared on Instagram and Twitter.
"Stocks are estimated at millions of dollars – Lamborghini, Maserati, BMW multiple, Mercedes … Porsche," said Patrick Curran, special agent of the DEA, at the trial of one of the company's partners. Agreement in 2016.
Edgardo Buscaglia, a Mexican money-laundering expert, said El Chapo "operates or controls some 3,500 companies on four continents". The Guardian reported. Now, with the head of the cartel in detention, his sons control this vast empire.
The high level trial attracted a lot of attention and concern. According to ABC News, the courthouse has been fortified. At the pre-trial hearings, heavily armed federal officers were present and bomb-sniffing dogs swept the building in search of threats.
In February, the judge accepted the prosecutors' wishes and decided to preserve the anonymity of the jury members, for their own safety and protection. The judge pointed out that the cartel routinely used henchmen, "who perpetrated hundreds of acts of violence, including murder, assault and kidnapping".
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