PHOTO: Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman. BBC
Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman is destined to spend the remainder of his life in a formidable prison known as the ‘Alcatraz of the Rockies’—an institution often described as a ‘high-tech version of hell.’ This harsh sentence was imposed upon him in 2019 due to his conviction on trafficking charges.
‘The prisoners really have no contact with other prisoners, all their movements are controlled,’ a lawyer told Reuters. ‘They get limited privileges, limited contacts’
In contrast, his wife, former model Emma Coronel Aispuro, has been released from federal custody in Los Angeles after serving a three-year sentence related to her involvement in her husband’s criminal empire.
El Chapo, recognized as the leader of the Sinaloa cartel, has been under US custody since 2016. His conviction in New York in 2019, which he vehemently contests, resulted in a life sentence. Aispuro, on the other hand, was found guilty in 2015 for her role in aiding El Chapo’s escape from a Mexican prison by smuggling a GPS watch disguised as food.
Emma Coronel Aispuro, 34, was released from the Long Beach Residential Reentry Management on Wednesday afternoon, according to NBC News
The correctional facility where El Chapo currently resides bears the official name ADX Florence. Situated 5,000 feet above sea level in Fremont County, Colorado, close to Florence, it occupies nearly 50 acres and is renowned as the most secure prison globally, as noted in the Guinness Book of Records.
Within ADX Florence, there is a section specifically designed for inmates deemed threats to others or those convicted of exceptionally heinous crimes. El Chapo shares this space with 325 other prisoners, enduring 23 hours of confinement daily within their soundproof, 7-by-12 reinforced concrete cells, which are meticulously engineered to minimize self-harm opportunities.
El Chapo has complained in letters about his treatment at the hands of prison staff at ADX Florence
A concrete stool, desk, and bed with a thin foam mattress are the meager furnishings within their cells, which also house a combination sink and toilet. Surveillance is extensive, with headcounts conducted six times daily. Meals are passed through slots in steel doors, and inmates are allowed to shower only three times a week, with one 15-minute monthly phone call and restricted-length letters to family.
Visitors require approval from the US Attorney General’s office, and visits can be distressing for all involved, as inmates are restrained during them. El Chapo has repeatedly voiced dissatisfaction with his prison conditions, particularly the lack of sunlight, and once complained about mistreatment by prison guards.
In his letters, he hinted at his belief that this mistreatment stems from his history of prison escapes, though no one has ever successfully fled ADX Florence. Experts like Martin Horn, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, consider this prison suitable for El Chapo given his escape record.
For their one hour of outdoor time, inmates are confined to small cages surrounded by high walls adorned with barbed wire and guarded by watchtowers. They wear leg irons, handcuffs, and belly chains.
The prison is often described as an exceedingly austere environment, where inmates are strongly encouraged to adhere to rules through the controlled distribution of TVs, which they can purchase with access to basic cable through the commissary. This commissary offers a limited range of items, including toothbrushes and candy, and a library cart makes rounds. Prisoners are allowed to attend religious services.
ADX Florence was designed as a place to modify the behavior of inmates who exhibited violence at other penitentiaries. In theory, prisoners can earn privileges or transfers based on their behavior, but few attain this status. To date, no inmate has escaped from this institution.
Beyond the supermax section, ADX Florence houses 754 high-security inmates, while medium and minimum-security units accommodate around 1,300 prisoners. El Chapo’s two daring escapes—in 2001 and through a tunnel 14 years later—underscore the facility’s formidable security measures, as it is literally built into the mountainside with robust defenses.
While it may be unwise to dismiss the possibility of El Chapo attempting another escape, experts believe that the chances of success are exceedingly slim within the confines of ADX Florence.