Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera’s Wife Arrested in U.S. for Drug Trafficking
Emma Coronel Aispuro, wife of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, arrives at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, January 31, 2019 in New York City. The defense for El Chapo is expected to rest their case possibly as soon as this afternoon. El Chapo is accused of trafficking over 440,000 pounds of cocaine, in addition to other drugs, and exerting power through murders and kidnappings as he led the Sinaloa Cartel. Prosecutors say they expect to rest their case soon in the trial that began in November. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The 31-year-old wife of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera was arrested on Monday in Virginia over charges of her alleged involvement in international drug trafficking. Emma Coronel Aispuro is a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen.

El Chapo was the infamous leader of a Mexican drug trafficking organization known as the Sinaloa cartel, according to a Fox News report.

Aispuro was arrested at Dulles International Airport and is set to make her initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District Columbia through a video conference.

Stated under the court documents, El Chapo's wife is charged with participating in conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana for transportation into the United States. In addition, she is also alleged to have conspired with others to assist Guzman in his Jul. 11, 2015 escape.

Guzman was imprisoned at the time at Altiplano prison, which is located in Almoloya de Juarez, Mexico.

El Chapo's Wife

Aispuro married El Chapo in 2007 and was a fixture at his high-profile Brooklyn trial two years ago. He was then sentenced to life in prison in July 2019, according to the New York Post report.

Prosecutors claim that not only was Aispuro aware of her husband's role as the leader of the violent Sinaloa cartel, but she also served as his go-between to help his drug trafficking operation. In addition, his wife allegedly "relayed messages" on his behalf while El Chapo was hiding out from Mexican authorities.

Federal authorities in court documents said that Aispuro grew up with knowledge of narcotics trafficking industry and married El Chapo when she was a teenager.

"Coronel understood the scope of the Sinaloa Cartel's drug trafficking; Coronel knows and understands the Sinaloa Cartel is the most prolific cartel in Mexico," according to a USA Today report.

Aispuro was allegedly passing messages between 2012 and 2014 on his behalf to further his drug trafficking activities, according to an arrest affidavit.

In February 2014, Aispuro allegedly continued to pass on messages she got from him during prison visits. The prosecutors also pin to Aispuro claims that she helped in his 2015 jailbreak through an underground tunnel.

Jeffrey Lichtman, a prominent New York City defense lawyer, confirmed on Monday that he is representing Aispuro. He was also involved during El Chapo's trial. He did not comment further on Aispuro's case.

El Chapo's Case

Damaso Lopez Nuñez was a former lieutenant of El Chapo. He testified as a witness against him in January 2019 and told jurors that his boss was determined to escape Mexico's maximum-security Altiplano prison, where he was imprisoned after a team of Mexican Marines captured him in February 2014.

El Chapo made his getaway on a motorcycle attached to rails inside the ventilated and lighted passageway.

Nuñez added that Aispuro started relaying El Chapo's instructions during a secret meeting that took place around April 2014 in Culiacan, Mexico. He testified through a Spanish translator.

Nuñez also testified that Aispuro relayed additional instructions from her husband to the plotters, saying that a tunnel had to be built and they should start to work.

At the time, Brooklyn federal prosecutors declined to discuss why Aispuro had not been charged in her husband's indictment.