Dozens of handwritten letters, purportedly signed by imprisoned drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and written in English, have arrived at the federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., sparking confusion and an investigation into their authenticity and origin.
The letters, which express grievances about Guzmán's prosecution and a desire to be returned to Mexico, are notable given that the former Sinaloa cartel leader, convicted in 2019 and serving a life sentence, is functionally illiterate and dropped out of school in elementary grades. Evidence presented during his trial indicated his communications were typically in rudimentary Spanish.
Over 20 letters have been submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, with the earliest dated April 10. One letter from April 25 states, "I did no harm to no one. I was known in my country not for bad things, the good things I’ve done." The missives have drawn criticism and derision online, with some questioning if Guzmán has learned English in prison or is using court filings for coded communications.
While the letters bear the return address of ADX Florence, the maximum-security federal prison in Colorado where Guzmán is held in isolation, their envelopes were postmarked in Jackson, Mississippi. Guzmán's defense team, including attorney Mariel Colón Miró, has disavowed any involvement, stating, "They’re not him. We have an investigation into who is sending them." A law enforcement source familiar with the case dismissed the letters as "complete bull—" and likely from someone "mentally ill."
Judge Brian Cogan, who oversaw Guzmán's trial, previously responded to the initial letters with an order denying their requests, stating, "Some of these documents make no sense and none of them have any legal merit." However, one recent letter, postmarked June 10, suggested a potential link, referencing "Aubrey Gideon in Greenwood, MS" and his rights and connection with his lawyer. Public records indicate an Aubrey Gideon in Greenwood has a history of legal issues, including a prior drug possession conviction.
Guzmán himself is currently under strict Special Administrative Measures, severely limiting his contact with the outside world. He recently filed a civil rights lawsuit in Colorado federal court detailing extreme isolation, sleep deprivation, and inadequate medical attention, which was dismissed on June 9. His legal team plans to file a new complaint, arguing his confinement violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
Prior to being separated, Guzmán reportedly communicated by shouting through walls with fellow inmate James "Jimmy" Sabatino, an associate of the Gambino crime family. Sabatino wrote to the Brooklyn court last year, describing a friendship with Guzmán and expressing concern for his deteriorating mental health. The letters from this unknown sender continue to arrive, with the latest referencing Mexico's president and Guzmán's lack of escape attempts from the U.S.
