Inside the Trial of El Chapo

Joaquin Guzmán is heading to federal court this week to face charges stemming from his role as the head of the Sinaloa Cartel

By Noah Horowitz @ Rolling Stone-7 hours ago

Joaquin Archivaldo Guzmán Loera has always made up for his size, even if his nickname, “El Chapo,” or Shorty, is a constant reminder of his squat, 5-feet-5-inches frame.

The diminutive drug lord, 61, made a name for himself as the undisputed king of the ruthless Sinaloa Cartel. Over the years, his organization has helped shovel thousands of tons of coke, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana into the waiting arms of American consumers. He notoriously ruled with an iron fist, and an eye for the tiniest detail.

For decades, he directed a billion-dollar enterprise, first from his mountainous stronghold in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, then, following his 1993 capture, from prison. After a 2001 escape, he kept the machine moving while on the run, hiding for 13 years in plain sight. Even after he was caught, in 2014, he wasn’t pinned down for long, shocking the world with a brazen subterranean escape.

Until he was recaptured in early 2016 — and extradited to the United States in 2017 — he seemed largely untouchable. Now, though, he’s in a tough spot [.....]