MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s once most powerful drug lord, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is claiming he cannot get phone calls or visits in the maximum security U.S. prison where he is serving a life sentence.
Guzmán, who in the past was able to break out of Mexican prisons seemingly at will, wrote a letter to District Court Judge Brian M. Cogan in the Eastern District of New York in late March, complaining that he hadn’t been able to speak with his twin daughters.
He was convicted for running an industrial-scale drug smuggling operation and is serving his sentence at a maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado.
In May 2023, "the facility stopped giving me calls with my daughters. And I haven’t had calls with them for seven months,” Guzmán wrote. “I have asked when they are going to give me a call with my daughters and the staff here told me that the FBI agent who monitors the calls does not answer. That’s all they’ve told me.”
“It is unprecedented discrimination against me,” Guzmán complained. “They have decided to punish me by not letting me talk to my daughters.”
Guzmán also asked the judge to authorize a visit by his wife, Emma Coronel, but did not say when he was last allowed to see her. Coronel also pleaded guilty to drug charges in 2021 but was later released.
“I ask that you please authorize her to visit me and to bring my daughters to visit me, since my daughters can only visit me when they are on school break, since they are studying in Mexico,” Guzmán wrote.
Cogan responded last week, saying that once Guzmán was convicted, all arrangements are in the hands of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, and that he had no power to intervene.
In his reply, Cogan also said that after his conviction, “the Bureau of Prisons became solely responsible” for the conditions of Guzmán's confinement and that the judge cannot change them.
“Accordingly, his request must be denied,” the judge said.
The letters were filed by the court to the case file, which is accessible to the public.
In December, Guzmán's 95-year-old mother died in Mexico's northern state of Sinaloa. She apparently had not seen her son since he was sent to the prison in Colorado.
Lawyers for Guzmán's family did not respond to messages requesting comment..
Guzmán led the Sinaloa cartel in bloody drug turf battles that claimed the lives of thousands of Mexicans. He escaped twice from Mexican prisons, once through a mile-long tunnel dug running from his cell.
After he was extradited to New York, his three-month trial included tales of grisly killings, political payoffs, cocaine hidden in jalapeno cans and jewel-encrusted guns.
There is also a chance he may one day see his son in prison. In 2023, Mexico extradited one of his many sons, Ovidio Guzmán López, to the United States to face drug trafficking, money laundering and other charges.
The younger Guzmán is believed to have led the Sinaloa cartel’s push to produce and export fentanyl to the United States, where it has been blamed for about 70,000 overdose deaths annually.
FILE - Authorities escort Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman from a plane to a waiting caravan of SUVs at Long Island MacArthur Airport, in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Jan. 19, 2017. Guzmán wrote a letter to District Court Judge Brian M. Cogan in the Eastern District of New York in late March 2024, claiming he cannot get phone calls or visits in the maximum security U.S. prison where he is serving a life sentence. (U.S. law enforcement via AP, File)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Pepiot and three relievers combined on a three-hit shutout and the Tampa Bay Rays withstood a ninth-inning comeback attempt to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 1-0 on Monday night.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy was ejected in the ninth inning after arguing a call that prevented Milwaukee from scoring the apparent tying run.
The Brewers had runners on second and third with one out when a potential third strike to Jake Bauers got past catcher René Pinto for a wild pitch, enabling Bauers to reach first while Sal Frelick came home. But plate umpire Ryan Additon ruled Bauers had hit Pinto on the backswing, resulting in Bauers getting called out while Frelick had to stay at third.
“I believe they got it wrong, but there was no question in their mind that they got it right,” Murphy said.
After Jason Adam hit Rhys Hoskins with a pitch to load the bases, he struck out Blake Perkins to end the game and earn his first save in two opportunities.
It was the second day in a row a controversial ruling went against the Brewers in a game they lost. After the Brewers fell 15-5 to the New York Yankees on Sunday, crew chief Andy Fletcher acknowledged Aaron Judge should have been called for interference for his slide on a botched double-play attempt that sparked New York’s seven-run tiebreaking rally in the sixth inning.
Pepiot (3-2) continued his recent surge and outdueled Bryse Wilson (2-1) to help Tampa Bay win for just the second time in its last eight games. The Rays staggered into Milwaukee after losing three consecutive games to the Chicago White Sox, who had entered that series with a 3-22 record.
“That was a big win for the team," Adam said. “That’s what we do when we’re playing good ball. We win blowouts and we win close games. I’m hopeful and optimistic that it’s a sign of things to come for this team.”
The Brewers lost their third straight and fell a half-game behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central standings. Milwaukee dropped to 5-7 at home, though it has an MLB-best 12-4 road record.
Over his last three appearances, Pepiot has allowed only two runs in 18 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander came to Tampa Bay in the offseason trade that sent Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tampa Bay scored the game's only run in the first by taking advantage of Wilson’s early control problems.
The Rays loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit as Wilson opened the game by hitting Yandy Díaz and walking Richie Palacios and Randy Arozarena. Isaac Paredes grounded into a double play that scored Díaz from third before Wilson struck out Austin Shenton to end the threat.
Wilson settled down from there and didn’t allow any other runners to advance beyond first base the rest of his 91-pitch outing. He threw his highest pitch total since July 7, 2022, and lasted six innings for the first time since Sept. 28, 2022.
“The first inning, he wasn’t very good, and he showed tremendous resiliency and came back and gave us six innings,” Murphy said. “Real credit to him, man.”
All 53 of Wilson’s appearances for the Brewers last season came in relief after he worked primarily as a starter with the Atlanta Braves (2018-21) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2021-22).
TRAINERS' ROOM
Rays: RHP Chris Devenski went on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to last Friday, with tendinitis in his right knee. The Rays recalled LHP Jacob Lopez from Triple-A Durham.
Brewers: Murphy said LHP Wade Miley will have Tommy John surgery on May 7 in Cincinnati.
UP NEXT
LHP Tyler Alexander (1-0, 4.74 ERA) starts for the Rays and RHP Freddy Peralta (2-0, 3.18) pitches for the Brewers on Tuesday night.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Milwaukee Brewers' Joey Ortiz hits a double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, April 29, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Tampa Bay Rays' Isaac Paredes hits a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, April 29, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Bryse Wilson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, April 29, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Bryse Wilson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, April 29, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, April 29, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, April 29, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
