Ismael El Mayo Zambada, co-founder of El Chapos drug cartel, sentenced to life in U.S. prison

NEW YORK — Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a founder of the Sinaloa cartel, was sentenced to life in prison in Brooklyn federal court, where he took responsibility in leading one of the world’s largest and most violent drug trafficking organizations.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.His life sentence closes a yearslong effort by the federal government to take down the infamous cartel leader who eluded the reach of U.S.

law enforcement for decades.Zambada was arrested in 2024 after he claimed that he was kidnapped in Mexico and flown to Texas.

Along with a life sentence, he was also ordered to forfeit $15 billion, however prosecutors have yet to locate a bulk of the illicit profits.Dressed in tan prison garb, Zambada appeared expressionless while he sat at the defense table in court on Monday.Speaking through a Spanish-language interpreter, he apologized, saying, “I am not here to ask for compassion.

I am here to take responsibility and to say I’m sorry — for the harm I caused and for the example I set.”“I grew up in an environment where violence and crime seemed normal, but now I know that’s no excuse,” said Zambada, who read from a prepared statement.“There comes a time when every person must take responsibility for their decisions.

I didn’t, and many people paid the price.”For decades, Zambada and co-founder Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán built the Sinaloa cartel into a prolific criminal enterprise defined by violence and corruption, flooding the U.S.with tons of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.Guzmán was convicted in 2019 and is serving a life sentence at a federal prison in Colorado.

Zambada pleaded guilty last year to charges of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and racketeering conspiracy, acknowledging culpability for 85 underlying crimes.His change of plea was entered after the government said it wouldn’t seek the death penalty.He acknowledged ...