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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 5 noveMber 2018
Reputation precedes 'El Chapo' as U.S. trial approaches

By TOM HAYS of the Sinaloa cartel. No one's hiding the ominous
Associated Press In his way now is a lineup of nature of the case from po-
NEW YORK (AP) — He is ac- government witnesses who tential jurors. Questions for
cused of having a hand in survived the wave of vio- them on an initial screen-
dozens of murders, of using lence and are expected ing form ask if they've ever
his drug cartel to smuggle to give details about the heard of "El Chapo" along
more than 200 tons of co- ruthless way he kept power with, "Have you, or has any-
caine into the United States, for 20 years in the cutthroat one close to you, ever felt
even pulling off running the world of international drug fearful of or threatened by
massive operation from be- trafficking. The defense people who you thought
hind bars. That's when he says the witnesses are the were associated with drug
wasn't busy escaping from true bad guys whose testi- crimes?"
jail — twice. mony shouldn't be trusted. Jurors also will be escorted
The almost-mythical crimi- The names of the witnesses to and from the courthouse
nal pedigree of Mexican have been blacked out on by federal officers and se-
drug lord Joaquin "El Cha- In this Jan. 19, 2017 file photo provided by U.S. law enforcement, court documents with pros- questered from the public
po" Guzman, who was ex- authorities escort Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, center, from a ecutors saying their identi- while inside. As a reason,
plane to a waiting caravan of SUVs at Long Island MacArthur
tradited in 2017 to face U.S. Airport, in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. ties need to be protected the judge cited prosecu-
drug conspiracy charges, Associated Press because their coopera- tors' contention that Guz-
has sparked security con- tion could put them in the man's cartel "employs 'si-
cerns at his upcoming New for a trial that is starting HAIRS crosshairs of a vengeful carios,' or hit men, who
York City trial that at times Monday with jury selection. Prosecutors say Guzman cartel. According to court carried out hundreds of
have drawn as much at- Opening statements are was in the habit of ordering papers, some are being acts of violence, including
tention as the case's sensa- likely Nov. 13. the killings of anyone who held in special jail units for murders, assaults and kid-
tional allegations. ___ got in his way during his their protection, while oth- nappings."
A look at those concerns WITNESSES IN THE CROSS- heyday in Mexico as boss ers are in witness protection ___
programs. KEEPING AN EYE ON EL
The list of people who could CHAPO
turn up on the witness stand After Guzman was brought
is long. Two standout possi- to New York, authorities
bilities are twin brothers Pe- here decided he should be
dro and Margarito Flores, housed in solitary confine-
former Chicago-based ment in a high-security wing
narcotics wholesalers who of a federal jail in Manhat-
did business with Guzman tan that has held notorious
before their arrest in 2008. terrorists and mobsters.
They agreed to cooperate Central to that calculation
and record phone con- was Guzman's history of
versations with Guzman giving directions to his lieu-
about the size of shipments tenants from Mexican jails
smuggled on boats and air- and credentials as a two-
planes. time escapee there. The
In one, a voice identified second time was via a mile-
as Guzman's asks, "How long (1.6 kilometer-long)
much can you get rid of in tunnel dug to the shower in
a month?" his cell.
The now imprisoned broth- The logistical problem for
ers paid a steep price for his keepers: The case is be-
flipping: Prosecutors say in ing prosecuted across the
2009 their father was mur- East River in federal court in
dered in Mexico by a cartel Brooklyn.
hit team. For pre-trial hearings, au-
___ thorities opted to transport
FORTIFYING THE COURT- him to and from jail by shut-
HOUSE ting down the Brooklyn
At pretrial hearings leading Bridge to make way for a
to the trial, heavily armed police motorcade that in-
federal officers and bomb- cluded a SWAT team and
sniffing dogs patrolled out- an ambulance, all tracked
side. Anyone trying to at- by helicopters.
tend the hearings was put The judge indicated he
through airport-style metal thinks the time and ex-
detectors at the court- pense involved would add
house entrance and at the up to a logistical nightmare
door of the courtroom itself. — and an inconvenience
The judge also agreed with for New Yorkers who rely
prosecutors that the jury for on the bridge to commute
the case should be kept — for a trial expected to
anonymous, a measure last as long as four months.
typical in terrorism or mob He said there would be
cases where jury intimida- adjustments, but didn't
tion is a concern. elaborate.q