“El Mayo” Zambada to Plead Guilty, Shaking the Sinaloa Cartel

«El Mayo» Zambada to plead guilty

Prosecutors rule out the death penalty

Possible deal with authorities

According to EFE, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the long-time leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, will plead guilty this Monday in New York.

The announcement follows the prosecution’s decision not to seek the death penalty against him.

The 77-year-old drug lord faces 17 charges, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms violations.

His surrender to the United States in 2023 remains surrounded by unanswered questions.

The Kingpin Faces 17 Charges

“El Mayo” will plead guilty, shaking the foundations of the Sinaloa Cartel #Cooperativa90 https://t.co/gM24kesFt1 pic.twitter.com/ZWK9eojCfT

— Cooperativa (@Cooperativa) August 24, 2025

Court documents describe the case as a change of plea.

It is not yet clear whether he will admit to all of the crimes or only some.

If confirmed, it would mark a definitive turn in El Mayo Zambada’s long history of evading justice.

The focus now is on the information he may provide to U.S. authorities.

El Mayo Zambada Guilty and Possible Benefits

“El Mayo” Zambada to Plead Guilty, Shaking the Sinaloa Cartel – PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The drug lord may seek concessions such as avoiding a maximum-security prison.

Other possibilities include a reduced sentence or increased access to his family.

His declining health at age 77 is also a factor in the negotiations.

Sources from the Department of Justice confirmed that these conditions are part of the possible deal.

Precedents from Key Cartel Witnesses

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, will formally plead guilty before a federal court in New York on Monday, August 25, according to EFE. https://t.co/DpJsq3hmYy

— NMás (@nmas) August 24, 2025

A key precedent is his son Vicente Zambada Niebla, known as “Vicentillo.”

In 2019, he testified in the trial against Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in the United States.

That testimony was decisive in securing a life sentence for his father’s former partner.

“El Mayo” Zambada’s cooperation could be equally significant for future investigations.

Judicial Deadlines and El Mayo Zambada Guilty

Judge Brian Cogan will be responsible for delivering the final sentence.

The timeline could extend up to six months, depending on the value of the information provided.

Prosecutors must review the content before making a formal sentencing recommendation.

With this, the United States would consolidate control over the two historic leaders of Mexican drug trafficking.

U.S. Strategy Against Drug Trafficking

El Mayo Zambada’s guilty plea raises new questions about the direction of U.S. drug policy.

The most notable precedent was the conviction of Genaro García Luna in 2024.

Mexico’s former Security Secretary was sentenced to 38 years in prison for conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel.

With “El Mayo” now in focus, the U.S. strategy aims to broaden its judicial reach.

Arrest and Trap in New Mexico

Zambada was arrested in July 2023 after landing in New Mexico in a small plane.

According to his account, Joaquín Guzmán López tricked him into surrendering to authorities.

Guzmán López is also currently negotiating a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors.

His brother Ovidio, known as “El Ratón,” began a similar process after his extradition in 2023.

Attorney and El Mayo Zambada Guilty

Since September 2023, Zambada had pleaded not guilty.

In February, his attorney Frank Pérez stated that everything depended on whether the death penalty was removed.

That factor changed the course of the case and opened the door to negotiations.

The defense insists that pleading guilty does not necessarily mean full cooperation with the authorities.