Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, considered for decades to be one of the main leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, agreed to serve a life sentence in the United States, according to a document filed Monday by his defense team in a federal court in New York.
The brief, addressed to Judge Brian M. Cogan, states that the Mexican drug trafficker pleaded guilty fully aware that the legal consequence would be to spend the rest of his life in prison and that he is not seeking a reduction in the sentence provided for under U.S. law.
El Mayo Zambada Agrees to Life Imprisonment in the U.S.
🔴 “El Mayo” Zambada wants to avoid the maximum-security prison where “El Chapo” is being held; he requests to serve his sentence in a medical prison
According to attorney Zambada, the 76-year-old faces various health problems described in the pre-sentencing report, many of which are… pic.twitter.com/gqrArVBxvx
— Milenio (@Milenio) July 7, 2026
However, his attorneys requested that, when handing down the sentence, the judge issue a recommendation that Zambada not be sent to a maximum-security prison and that he be guaranteed the necessary medical care given his health condition.
According to the defense, since arriving in the United States in July 2024, Zambada has expressed his intention to accept responsibility and avoid a lengthy trial.
The attorneys argue that this decision saved the judicial system time and resources, since the defendant did not file any legal appeals to delay the proceedings nor did he contest the charges against him.
The document also clarifies that “El Mayo” did not provide assistance to U.S. authorities and has no intention of cooperating in the future in order to obtain legal benefits or a reduced sentence.
When will the hearing be?
🚨 Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada accepted a life sentence in the United States and waived his right to appeal his conviction or seek a reduced sentence.
In a brief filed with the judge, his defense team requested that, due to his health condition, he be held in a facility… pic.twitter.com/VFxowUzssM
— LuisCardenasMX (@LuisCardenasMx) July 7, 2026
The hearing to hear the final ruling is scheduled for July 20.
On that day, Judge Brian M. Cogan will officially determine the sentence the drug trafficker will serve and may issue recommendations regarding the prison where he will be held in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Ismael Zambada, 76, was for years one of the most wanted men by U.S. and Mexican authorities due to his role as one of the top leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, an organization considered one of the most powerful in international drug trafficking.
He was arrested on July 25, 2024, when he arrived in the United States with Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, on a private plane that landed near El Paso, Texas.
According to the account presented by Zambada’s defense team and later acknowledged by Guzmán López in U.S. court, the drug lord was deceived and transported against his will to be handed over to federal authorities.
The arrest marked the end of a criminal career that spanned several decades and represented one of the most significant blows against the Sinaloa Cartel.
Now that he has pleaded guilty and agreed to a life sentence, the case is entering its final stage, pending the court’s decision, which is expected this month.
Filed under: El Mayo Zambada, life imprisonment