Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the former kingpin of the Sinaloa cartel, is set to plead guilty to federal charges related to his involvement in the drug trade that impacted the United States for years. The 77-year-old is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Brooklyn for a change of plea hearing.
After federal prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty against Zambada, who was arrested in Texas last year, they anticipate him pleading guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of running a continuing criminal enterprise.
The Sinaloa cartel, under the leadership of Zambada and co-founder Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, transformed from a regional player to the largest drug trafficking organization globally. Zambada oversaw a violent cartel with a well-armed private security force and a group of hitmen who carried out violent acts such as assassinations, kidnappings, and torture.
Last year, Zambada pleaded not guilty to various drug trafficking charges, including gun and money laundering offenses. His lawyers have not yet provided a comment on the upcoming plea hearing.
In 2019, Guzmán was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in the same federal court in Brooklyn. Additionally, Guzmán's two sons, who managed a faction of the cartel, are also facing federal charges.
