Mafia Boss Seeks Mental Health Relief with El Chapo in Prison

UPDATE: A Cosa Nostra mafia boss, James Sabatino, has urgently requested to live with notorious drug lord Joaquín Guzmán, also known as El Chapo, in a bold plea aimed at improving his deteriorating mental health. This unusual request, filed on November 13, highlights the severe conditions both inmates face in the infamous ADX Florence facility in Colorado.

Sabatino, who is considered the most restricted inmate in the United States, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for orchestrating a $10 million racketeering scheme from behind bars. His lawyers argue that the extreme isolation—spending up to 23 hours a day in a hyper-restrictive Special Housing Unit—has led to significant mental health issues. The court filings state that these conditions “destroy anyone,” emphasizing the urgent need for human connection.

The motion contends that cohabitation with Guzmán would provide Sabatino with a vital support system during recreation time, where they could interact in separate cages. “This proposal would be an act of humility,” asserts Sabatino’s lawyer, Israel Encinosa, as he pushes for a more humane treatment of these inmates.

Currently, both Sabatino and Guzmán have limited interaction, restricted to weekly sunbathing sessions and brief phone calls. Guzmán is allowed only two weekly visits from his daughters, further exacerbating the isolation both men endure. Encinosa stated, “They are human beings…and should be treated as such,” underscoring the emotional toll of their confinement.

This request follows a similar motion filed earlier this year, where Sabatino sought permission for the two inmates to recreate together in their enclosed spaces. The legal argument emphasizes that allowing them to share this time would not compromise security but rather support their mental well-being.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications of this request raise questions about the ethics of inmate treatment and the psychological impact of isolation in U.S. prisons. Both inmates, known for their criminal backgrounds, are fighting for a semblance of normalcy in the harshest of environments.

The next steps in this case will be closely monitored as the court deliberates on whether to grant this unprecedented request. As public interest in prison reform continues to grow, the outcomes could set a precedent for how mentally vulnerable inmates are treated in the future.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as it unfolds.