Sinaloa Cartel Leader 'El Mayo' in Plea Negotiations with U.S. Prosecutors

Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, faces drug and weapons charges in Brooklyn federal court as his son may testify against him.

• Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, 76, co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, is engaged in plea discussions with U.S. prosecutors to potentially avoid a trial that could result in the death penalty.
• Zambada, who was arrested in July 2024 after evading capture for over two decades, has pleaded not guilty to 17 federal charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering.
• During a Brooklyn federal court hearing, Zambada chose to retain his lawyer, Frank Perez, despite potential conflicts of interest due to Perez's prior representation of Zambada's son, Vicente.
• Prosecutors have indicated that Vicente Zambada, who previously testified against Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzmán, may be called as a witness in his father's case.
• The Sinaloa cartel, under Zambada's leadership, has been accused of expanding its operations into fentanyl production, contributing significantly to the opioid crisis in the United States.

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