El Chapo Decries Case as 'Stained' as He's Handed Life

El Chapo's punishment is not a light one. A federal judge in Brooklyn on Wednesday sentenced Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman to life in prison plus 30 years; he also must pay $12.6 billion in forfeiture, reports CNN. Guzman spoke at the sentencing hearing, saying "my case was stained and [US District Judge Brian Cogan] denied me a fair trial when the whole world was watching. When I was extradited to the United States, I expected to have a fair trial, but what happened was exactly the opposite."

One of Guzman's attorneys also had complaints. The AP reports Jeffrey Lichtman told reporters "half the jury cheated" by not avoiding all media reports on Guzman. Cogan on Wednesday said the claims of juror misconduct were minimal compared to the "mountain range of evidence" against the 62-year-old, hence his denial of Guzman's request for a new trial. Guzman's February conviction on drug trafficking charges meant he would receive a mandatory sentence of life without parole, and NBC News reports the Justice Department requested another 30 years be slapped onto the sentence due to Guzman's illegal use of firearms during his crimes. He waved to his family and placed his hand on his heart as he was sentenced. (More Joaquin Guzman stories.)