Overview

• Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada entered a guilty plea in New York, acknowledged life as both the minimum and maximum sentence, and agreed not to appeal or seek parole.
• Judge Brian Cogan ordered a $15 billion fine as Zambada must disclose all assets and surrender hidden property by November, with sentencing set for January 13.
• Under the deal, U.S. prosecutors will not bring additional drug, homicide, or conspiracy charges for conduct from January 1989 through January 2024, and cases in multiple districts will be dismissed.
• The agreement contains no requirement to cooperate, and his attorney said he will not name others, though analysts note U.S. agencies could still leverage any information obtained privately.
• U.S. officials praised the case as a significant victory, while President Claudia Sheinbaum called for specific complaints and sought clarity on how Zambada was transferred into U.S. custody.