Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman sat atop a murderous Mexican Sinaloa drugs cartel

He was convicted in February of running a criminal enterprise among other drug related charges and remains in custody in a federal prison in New York

El Chapo has been in US detention for 27 months already, living in 10-by-8-foot windowless cell - described as 'cruel and unusual' by his attorney Mariel Colon

In more than two years, her client had no access to fresh air or natural sunlight while in solitary confinement, she wrote in a letter to Judge Brian Cogan

Colon added that El Chapo currently suffers from 'distress' and has a 'serious issue of sleep deprivation' because the lights in his cell are always on, she wrote

The attorney called the conditions a violation of her client's eighth amendment rights and fundamental norms of human decency

El Chapo's attorney has demanded a judge step in and provide the drug kingpin with improved prison conditions - describing his current situation as 'cruel and unusual'.

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, 62, who was head of the notorious Sinaloa drugs cartel, was convicted in February of running a criminal enterprise, among other narcotic-related charges, and remains in custody in a federal prison in Manhattan, New York.

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The drug lord has been in US detention for 27 months living in 10-by-8-foot windowless cell, his attorney Mariel Colon said.

Drug lord: El Chapo's attorney has demanded a judge step in and provide the drug kingpin with improved prison conditions, describing his current situation as 'cruel and unusual'. Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, who sat atop a murderous Mexican drug cartel, was convicted in February of running a criminal enterprise, among other narcotic-related charges (pictured, January 2017)

He remains in custody in a federal prison in Manhattan, New York and will be sentenced June 25 (The Metropolitan Correctional Center, where El Chapo is being held)

In the more than two years, her client had no access to fresh air or natural sunlight while in solitary confinement, the attorney wrote in a letter to Judge Brian M. Cogan of the Eastern District of New York.

Colon added that El Chapo currently suffers from 'distress' and has a 'serious issue of sleep deprivation' because the lights in his cell are always on, she wrote.

'This deprivation of sunlight and fresh air, over an excessive 27-month period, is causing psychological scarring,' CNN report. 'He... is suffering many symptoms of distress as a result of this lengthy unwarranted punishment.'

The attorney called the conditions a violation of her client's eighth amendment rights and fundamental norms of human decency (pictured, 2014)

Among the litany of complaints Colon listed was the air condition, which is reportedly so loud, El Chapo is unable to sleep (January, 2016)

The government has previously pushed for the kingpin to be placed under restrictive detention conditions to prevent him from running the Sinaloa Cartel from prison - amid fears he could coordinate another escape - having done so twice before (pictured, January 2016)

Among the litany of complaints Colon listed was the air conditioning, which is reportedly so loud that El Chapo is unable to sleep.

Because of this, the drug lord has been using toilet paper as earplugs, and he complains of daily headaches and ear pain that makes it impossible for him to use earphones.

The attorney called the conditions a violation of her client's eighth amendment rights and fundamental norms of human decency.

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She also said that food and other items are routinely held from him 'without apparent reason or explanation,' and while other inmates get bottles of water every week, El Chapo has had his limit restricted to 22 small bottles of water across six months.

She asked the judge to order the Bureau of Prisons to allow El Chapo access to two hours of outdoor exercise a week, earplugs, the same food and drink options as other inmates, and to be allowed to buy six bottles of water a week.

'These types of restrictions have no relation to security concerns and they only serve to punish Mr. Guzman, and further his sense of frustration and isolation,' Colon wrote.

Meanwhile, in March, his defense called on the judge to demand the 18 jurors who found him back return for an hearing to find out whether there had been juror misconduct during his nearly three-month trial

The judge ordered the government to respond by May 23 and the defendant a week later.

The government has previously pushed for the kingpin to be placed under restrictive detention conditions to prevent him from running the Sinaloa Cartel from prison - amid fears he could coordinate another escape - having done so twice before.

Meanwhile, in March, his defense called on the judge to demand the 18 jurors who found him guilty back in February return for a hearing to find out whether there had been juror misconduct during his nearly three-month trial. They also asked for a new trial.

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The request came in the wake of a report that at least five fellow jurors violated the judge's orders by following the case in the media during the trial.

The attorneys brought up their concerns after Vice News published excerpts of an interview with an anonymous juror.

Prosecutors have pushed back against this request.