Overview

• In a Brooklyn federal court, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada changed his plea to guilty on two RICO-related counts, with sentencing set for January 13, 2026 and a potential life term plus up to $15 billion in forfeiture.
• Zambada acknowledged ordering murders, directing the Sinaloa cartel for decades and moving more than 1.5 million kilograms of cocaine while bribing police, military commanders and politicians in Mexico.
• U.S. officials from the Justice Department and DEA hailed the plea as a landmark blow against cartel leadership, asserting he will never walk free and describing the Sinaloa cartel as “decapitated.”
• His attorney said Zambada will not cooperate with prosecutors or identify Mexican officials, emphasizing there is no collaboration agreement tied to the plea.
• Questions persist over his transfer to U.S. custody after a 2024 landing in New Mexico, as President Claudia Sheinbaum says her government lacks detailed information and urges specific complaints to pursue alleged corruption.