U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan sentenced Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to life in prison on Monday in a Brooklyn federal court. The sentencing follows a 2025 plea deal in which Zambada, 76, pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and continuing criminal enterprise. As part of that agreement, the U.S. Justice Department declined to seek the death penalty, making a life sentence mandatory.
Zambada admitted to leading the Sinaloa Cartel for several decades and overseeing the distribution of millions of kilograms of cocaine. He was arrested in July 2024 in New Mexico after arriving on a private aircraft with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of former cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Guzman Lopez has also pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.
During the proceedings, Zambada's defense attorney, Frank Perez, requested that his client be placed in a facility capable of providing adequate medical care for his age. Federal prosecutors opposed specific facility requests, citing security concerns. They argued that Zambada might attempt to direct cartel operations from prison, noting that individuals loyal to him remain active in the organization.
Zambada is the most prominent leader of the Sinaloa Cartel to be sentenced in the United States since Joaquin Guzman received a life sentence in 2019. The elder Guzman is currently serving his term at a maximum-security prison in Colorado.