El Chapo’s Wife Emma Coronel Aispuro Could Face Life Sentence After Helping Sinaloa Cartel

The wife of the infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán could be facing a life sentence after pleading guilty to three federal offenses involving the Sinaloa cartel.

On Thursday, Emma Coronel Aispuro appeared in a Washington federal court where she entered a guilty plea as a part of her deal with prosecutors.

The 31-year-old admitted to money laundering, the distribution of large quantities of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and engaging in transactions with a foreign narcotics trafficker.

Coronel Aispuro was previously arrested in February at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia after authorities discovered she was traveling with narcotics.

El Chapo’s wife was charged with conspiracy to distribute 1 kilo of heroin, 5 kilos or more of cocaine, 1,000 kilos or more of marijuana, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine for importation into the U.S.

Prosecutor Anthony Nardozzi claimed Coronel Aispuro “served as a go-between” to pass messages to members of the Sinaloa cartel after her husband was arrested and “aided and abetted” the group's criminal activities.

Nardozzito also accused Coronel Aispuro of conspiring with El Chapo’s sons to “plan and coordinate” his prison escapes.

As a result of her plea, Coronel Aispuro could face a maximum sentence of life in prison similar to her husband. She is already facing a minimum mandatory 10-year sentence for the drug trafficking charge.

However, Jeffrey Lichtman, Coronel Aispuro’s lawyer, is hopeful his client will receive a lesser sentence.

“She is very happy to put this behind her,” he said outside of the courthouse. “She didn’t expect to get arrested after her husband received life in prison. So, this is obviously a troubling time. But we’re going to get past it.”

Although the exact terms of her plea have not been revealed, Lichtman claimed Coronel Aispuro did not agree to cooperate with federal investigators.