Overview

• He admitted in a Brooklyn federal courtroom to leading the Sinaloa Cartel and to paying bribes to police, military commanders and politicians for years.
• Defense attorney Frank Pérez said there is no agreement for Zambada to cooperate with the United States or any other government and stated he will not name politicians or collaborators.
• The court set sentencing for January 13, 2026, and reporting from the hearing notes massive financial penalties, including a figure of about $15 billion.
• Through his counsel, Zambada called on residents of Sinaloa to remain calm and avoid violence, following months of unrest and factional clashes after his capture and transfer.
• Coverage indicates prior negotiations with the Department of Justice removed death‑penalty exposure, and U.S. prosecutor Pamela Bondi said he will “die in prison.”