Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 6h6 hours ago
The prosecution took us (via cell phone footage) on a grand tour of one of El Chapo's Mexican properties. The judge characterized the lengthy tour - complete with a closet survey - as "a real estate broker's" presentation, warning the prosecution: "Don't beat a dead horse."
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 6h6 hours ago
"I did not know the future," Vicente Zambada said of taking a plea deal, adding that he could not have guessed he'd one day have to testify against El Chapo. "My compadre Chapo is not my enemy."
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 6h6 hours ago
During cross-examination, Eduardo Balarezo submitted into evidence the cover of a
@revistaproceso magazine picturing its reporter with El Mayo. The prosecution objected to the jury seeing the words on the cover: "En la guarida del Mayo Zambada" ("In the den of Mayo Zambada.")
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 6h6 hours ago
El Mayo is the man in the baseball cap with his arm around the older, white-haired gentleman (the reporter from
@revistaproceso).
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 6h6 hours ago
The defense ended its cross-examination of El Mayo's son, Vicente Zambada with a litany of photos of the Sinaloa cartel's enemies and associates, including: Alfredo and Héctor Beltrán-Leyva, Guero Palma and Nacho Coronel -- everyone was dead or in prison ... except El Mayo.
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 5h5 hours ago
Also among those currently incarcerated: Vicente Zambada (who finished testifying today), Ismael Zambada “Imperial,” and Serafín Zambada Ortiz (all sons of El Mayo), as well as El Mayo’s brother, Jesus Reynaldo Zambada (who was the government’s first star witness).
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 5h5 hours ago
Vicente Zambada and El Chapo exchanged nods as Vicente left the stand today, following three days of testimony.
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 5h5 hours ago
Among the items in the home: a pair of size-9 Nike sneakers, which were not brought into the courtroom. "So if they don't fit Mr. Guzmán, the jury has no way of knowing that," Eduardo
@balarezolaw said. Then what? Even the stern FBI special agent laughed: "The OJ trial?"
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 5h5 hours ago
Edgar Ivan Galvan came to the stand today to testify against El Chapo. He’s a relatively low-level witness by trial standards. He said he got into marijuana sales following his divorce in 2003. He previously worked at a grocery store and as a cab driver.
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 4h4 hours ago
In 2004 Edgar Ivan Galvan met “Jaguar” in 2004. “He told me that he was the person in charge of all the marijuana” in Juarez.
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 4h4 hours ago
In July 2005, some two years after his divorce and eventual break from the legal world, Edgar Ivan Galvan was stopped by police in Orlando and arrested with a friend for possession of 550 pounds of marijuana.
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 4h4 hours ago
When Edgar Ivan Galvan saw Jaguar again, he had gone through a complete transformation - giving up his rancher outfits for brand-named clothing and a stylish new haircut. In the passing 2.5 years, Jaguar had cut a deal with El Chapo, who had offered him the Juarez Plaza.
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 4h4 hours ago
Jaguar, who had started in La Línea cartel had switched sides after he was kidnapped by Vicente Carrillo’s right-hand man, J.L. Instead of a typical reaction to being kidnapped, “Jaguar thought that this was the perfect opportunity for him to be able to kill J.L.”
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 4h4 hours ago
At the time, Chapo wanted control of Juarez, then Línea territory ... at any cost. “It was something personal,” Edgar Ivan Galvan recalled. “And he said that by his balls he was going to take over Juarez.” (Huh? Yes, the translation is likely faulty, but had to share as is.)
Emily PalmerVerified account @emilyepalmer 4h4 hours ago
Jaguar, who was already a part of the Línea cartel was the perfect inside man to “eliminate the Línea people little by little.” To be continued back in court ...
Molly Crane-NewmanVerified account @molcranenewman 4h4 hours ago
Vicente Zambada Niebla is finished on the stand on day 24 of
#ElChapo's trial. There wasn’t anything worthy of a headline in his testimony, but some good tidbits that reflect his enduring respect for his former boss -- despite it all.
Molly Crane-NewmanVerified account @molcranenewman 4h4 hours ago
@balarezolaw pressed VZN to explain more about contact he’s had with his fugitive father following his 2012 extradition to the U.S. VZN testified that he's only spoken with his father twice since & said the purpose of the calls was to obtain info from him and Chapo for the DEA
Molly Crane-NewmanVerified account @molcranenewman 3h3 hours ago
Balarezo noted Chapo was arrested not long after these calls w his father took place, but Vicente rejected the insinuation they colluded against Guzman -- stressing that he only provided agents with information on enemies of the Sinaloa Cartel, like Arturo Beltran Leyva's number
Molly Crane-NewmanVerified account @molcranenewman 3h3 hours ago
“You’re testifying against him. He is your enemy,” the lawyer said.
“No, sir."
“Oh. You’re doing him a favor?”
“He knew that I was going to testify against him ... I did not know the future. I did not know my compadre Chapo would be here. My compadre Chapo is not my enemy.”
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