Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has made himself heard once more from contained in the ADX Florence in Colorado, one of many United States’ most restrictive federal prisons. This time the previous chief of the Sinaloa Cartel wrote a handwritten letter in English that pleads for “equity” and claims his constitutional rights have been violated.
Within the one-page observe, reviewed by the Latin Occasions, Guzmán addresses the federal court docket that sentenced him and asks for what he describes as “a good therapy on this nation.” He additionally writes, “I’m searching for consideration for my 1st Modification rights, and the violation of the eighth Modification was damaged.”
This isn’t the primary time El Chapo has complained about his situations within the Colorado supermax. Nonetheless, this time is totally different. The previous Sinaloa cartel boss has spent years sending letters and filings about his confinement, however this newest observe seems in tough, handwritten English, an uncommon element for a prisoner lengthy described in court docket data as a Spanish speaker with restricted English.
The First Modificationprotects 5 basic freedoms:
- Faith: You may follow any faith, or none in any respect. The federal government can’t set up an official faith.
- Speech: You’ve the suitable to specific concepts and opinions with out undue authorities interference.
- Press: Media can publish data and opinions with out censorship.
- Meeting: Folks can collect peacefully to protest or specific views.
- Petition: You may complain to or search adjustments from the federal government.
The Eighth Modificationfocuses on equity in punishment and the justice system. It says:
- No extreme bail (unreasonably excessive quantities to remain out of jail earlier than trial)
- No extreme fines
- No merciless and weird punishments
In a 2017 court docket struggle over his pretrial confinement, federal prosecutors mentioned Guzmán was “wholesome and studying English” whereas in U.S. custody. A 2025 submitting mentioned he had discovered “a bit English” at ADX Florence from one other inmate who generally translated for him with guards.
Guzmán has been serving a life sentence plus 30 years since July 2019, after a Brooklyn jury convicted him on sweeping drug trafficking, firearms, and cash laundering expenses. The Justice Division mentioned he was sentenced by Choose Brian Cogan as a principal chief of the Sinaloa Cartel and ordered to forfeit $12.6 billion. He’s being held at ADX Florence in Colorado, the Bureau of Prisons’ administrative most facility, which the company says is designed for inmates who pose the best dangers to employees, different prisoners and the general public.
His complaints concerning the jail are usually not new. In 2024, Guzmán wrote to Cogan saying he had been unable to get calls or visits, together with together with his twin daughters, and known as it “unprecedented discrimination in opposition to me.”
AP reported that he requested for permission for his spouse, Emma Coronel, to go to as effectively, however Cogan responded that jail situations after conviction fall underneath the Bureau of Prisons, not the sentencing court docket. Mexican retailers have additionally reported repeated complaints from Guzmán’s authorized staff over excessive isolation, weight reduction and episodes of tachycardia this 12 months.
Finest-faith transcription of the letter, preserving spelling and grammar as written the place legible:
Mandate Launch
Florence, Co 4/12/26
Hello, to the District Choose within the Jap
of New York on the behalf of my mandate
launch of Joaquin Guzman international and U.S.A
legal guidelines. It is a well mannered letter of my structure
Coverage of mexico on the authority of getting
extradite to the US legal guidelines of Energy
on giving me a good therapy on this nation.
The rising of the structure legal guidelines within the
court docket of regulation have the rights to attach and
be use for my equal safety on my rights
on this mandate launch. It is a concern assertion
to the decide of the regulation on abiding by my
consent on lack of proof within the federal regulation,
Because of the U.S. district decide on responding
to my request of equity of the regulation, In additionally
am searching for consideration of my 1st modification rights,
and the violation of the eighth modification was Damaged,
Joaquin Guzman
signature
Initially revealed on Latin Occasions