Corona-Verbera

BACKGROUND

The Sinaloa Cartel, led by Joaquin Guzman Loera (“El Chap- po”),1 was one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in Mexico during the late 1980s. One of El Chappo’s “top aids,” co-conspirator Angel Martinez-Martinez (“Martinez”), testi- fied at Corona-Verbera’s trial that the purpose of the Sinaloa Cartel was to obtain drugs, primarily cocaine, and smuggle the drugs into the United States for sale.

Corona-Verbera’s current legal troubles stem from his involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel. The story, as it pertains to Corona-Verbera, began in May of 1990, when, as a result of a tip, United States Customs agents set up surveillance on a warehouse in Douglas, Arizona (“Douglas Warehouse”). The agents followed a flatbed truck from the Douglas Ware- house to a farmhouse complex in Queen Creek, Arizona (“Queen Creek Complex”). They maintained surveillance on the Queen Creek Complex for two days. During those two days of surveillance, law enforcement officials observed “flashes” emanating from inside one of the structures that they believed were caused by either welding or cutting with a torch. 1 Also referred to as Chappo Guzman. UNITED STATES v. CORONA-VERBERA …