Jurors seated on the case of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman were questioned one last time Monday about their possible exposure to news media, just days after newly unsealed filings accused the kingpin of drugging and raping young women.
“I have thoroughly questioned the jury,” Brooklyn federal Judge Brian Cogan told the court after a bench conference with attorneys from both sides, which he promptly sealed.
“Two jurors said they had seen something quickly,” Cogan announced, before saying he would question the two panelists privately about what they’d seen.
Cogan said nothing about the individual conversations after returning to the courtroom, and immediately asked that the jurors be brought in. The full panel entered around 10:20 a.m., when the judge began to instruct them on the law.
Deliberations are expected to begin later Monday.
While the subject of inquiry by the judge was not made clear, the series of sealed conversations come just two days after newly public court papers alleged that the 61-year-old paid $5,000 to have girls as young as 13 years old delivered to him for sex.
“The defendant called the youngest of the girls his ‘vitamins’ because he believed that sexual activity with young girls gave him ‘life,’ ” the documents state.
The disturbing accusations come from Guzman’s former secretary, Alex Cifuentes, who testified against his onetime boss over the course of his 11-week drug trafficking trial.
Cifuentes told prosecutors that he would drug the girls at Guzman’s direction by “placing a powdery substance in their drinks,” and that he and Guzman would then have sex with them.
The documents additionally accuse the drug lord of raping his mistress Lucero Sanchez Lopez.
If convicted, Guzman faces up to life behind bars.



