The charges were handed up by a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas on April 11, but were not publicly released until today. The indictment was unsealed on motion of the Justice Department.
The 28 page document includes allegations of drug smuggling, kidnapping, conspiracy, murder, money laundering and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Racketeering laws, originally passed by Congress in 1970 to prosecute the Mafia, are commonly used against drug cartels. The charges carry up to life imprisonment without parole. Twenty-two other key cartel operatives were also indicted.
Guzmán escaped from a Mexican prison in January 2001 and has been on the lam since. The U.S. and Mexico have offered combined rewards of $7 million for his capture.
The 14 count indictment provides some interesting details on how the Sinaloa Cartel, sometimes known here as the Cartel del Pacifico, operates. Federal prosecutors allege that Sinaloa seeks to control all drug routes running through deadly Ciudad Juárez, just across the border from El Paso, which has precipitated enormous violence in recent years and tagged Juárez with the reputation of the world's most dangerous metropolitan area.
Guzmán has been indicted before in other federal courts, but he's never been arrested in the United States, nor had to answer any of the dozens of charges pending against him.
Feb. 21, 2013 - Enrique Peña Nieto: "I'm not able to confirm the death of El Chapo Guzmán"
El Chapo Guzman Indictment 4-11-12
El Chapo Guzmán
50 Matazeta executioners in Cancún to "control the plaza" for El Chapo Guzmán: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/04/50-matazeta-executioners-in-cancun-to.html.
Chapo Guzmán, just missed in Los Cabos: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/el-chapo-nabbed-almost.html.
Is Mexico closing in on El Chapo Guzmán?: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/is-mexico-closing-in-on-el-chapo-guzman.html.
Carlos Slim, El Chapo Guzmán both make 2012 Forbes richest list again: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-do-carlos-slim-el-chapo-guzman.html.
U.S. confirms El Chapo is world's most wanted narco: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/us-confirms-el-chapo-guzman-is-worlds.html.
Key aid to El Chapo arrested: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/key-aid-to-el-chapo-guzman-arrested.html.
El Chapo WANTED, DEAD OR ALIVE: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/el-chapo-guzman-dead-or-alive.html.
El Chapo dominates U.S. narcotics trade: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/sinaloa-cartel-of-el-chapo-guzman.html.
"I'll get El Chapo": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/pans-ernersto-cordero-promises-ill-get.html.
El Chapo's wife delivers twin daughters in L.A.: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/escaped-mexican-drug-lord-joaquin.html.
Ciudad Juárez violence
U.S. drug czar tells House that Juárez is still world's most deadly city: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/us-drug-czar-tells-house-that-juarez-is.html.
Juárez police take refuge in fortress hotels: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/red-alert-forces-juarez-police-to-seek.html.
Police are primary targets in Ciudad Juárez: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/police-are-now-primary-targets-of.html.
Revenge attack against Juárez police patrol: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/revenge-attack-against-juarez-police.html.
Juárez killer of pregnant U.S. consulate employee collects 10 life terms: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/04/juarez-killer-of-pregnant-us-consulate.html.
Major Juárez crime boss captured - leader of La Linea: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/12/major-juarez-crime-boss-captured-leader.html.
Mexico extradites suspect in brutal Juárez execution of U.S. consulate worker: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/12/mexico-extradites-suspect-in-brutal.html.
Another day of madness in Juárez: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/cartel-hit-men-execute-ambulance-crew-2.html.
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