El Chapo's Wife Emma Coronel Aispuro 'Turned Herself Into Police'
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Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of the incarcerated drug lord known as 'El Chapo', reportedly gave her self up to police earlier this week.
The former drug lord's spouse was arrested at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia and appeared at federal court in Washington, DC today (23 February).
However, sources close to the case have reportedly told Vice that rather than being a huge coupe for the police, it looks more like Aispuro was cooperating with the authorities.
When asked about the alleged surrender, Aispuro's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, who also served as Chapo's lead trial counsel, accused federal authorities of providing the information to the publication.
He said: "I'm stunned that the feds would do this. There's zero chance it's anyone else. And it's sickening. She's got kids.
"I'm happy to respond to this allegation if you tell me who leaked it. But I'll be damned if I'm going to respond to a cowardly anonymous leaker with a pointed on the record rejoinder."
Vice would not provide the name/s of its source/s.
Speaking to the Sun, US drug cop Mike Vigil said Aispuro could cause a huge amount of damage to the Sinaloa drug cartel if she chose to cooperate.
He told the publication: "Emma Coronel has always been a narco princess. Her father Inez and her brother Omar were drug traffickers when she was growing up.
"When she married Chapo Guzman the families merged. Guzman brought in her father and brother to be his top lieutenants.
"The cartels trust their family members more than anybody else."
Adding: "She can provide a lot of information that can lead to US-based indictments against Sinaloa cartel members.
"Her life is in danger if she co-operates."
On Monday (22 February), the US Justice Department revealed that the 31-year-old had been charged with one count of conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines for unlawful importation into the United States.
A statement from the Justice Department said: "Cornel Aispuro is charged in a one count criminal complaint with a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamines for unlawful importation into the US."
Aispuro is also alleged to have helped El Chapo, real name Joaquin El Chapo Guzman Loera, to escape from Altiplano prison in Mexico back in 2015.
During her first appearance at court, Aispuro's lawyer agreed with the judge that their client would remain jailed while the case proceeds.
Guzmán is currently serving a life sentence in New York after being convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering offences.
The 63-year-old used to be the head of the Sinaloa cartel, which officials say was the largest supplier of drugs to the whole of the United States.
