Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the ADX Florence supermax prison in Colorado after being found guilty of multiple drug trafficking and organized crime charges, is seeking permission to have one of the most notorious con artists in the United States as a “friend” inside the prison.
This is not only to have someone to interact with in the prison’s recreation area, but also to have someone who can help him with aspects of his defense and communication with authorities.
This is not a figurative request. The U.S. criminal justice system recognizes the concept of a “close friend,” which applies to individuals who, due to language barriers, age, cognitive ability, or similar limitations, cannot litigate or adequately communicate their own case or requests, and therefore need someone to act on their behalf.
The formal request for close friend status was received on November 13th in the Brooklyn Federal Court, through a letter signed by James Peter Sabatino, sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in some of the most notorious frauds in the United States in recent decades.
In the letter, Sabatino requests, on behalf of himself and El Chapo, that they both be recognized as “close friends” and be allowed to spend time together, given the high probability that neither will ever be released.
To date, neither the New York court nor the federal court in Florida, where Sabatino’s case is being heard, has issued a ruling on the matter.
