Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, July 20, in the Eastern District of New York court. The Sinaloa Cartel co-founder accepted responsibility and called for an end to violence in Mexico.
Judge Brian Cogan handed down the sentence after Zambada read a letter in court. In it, the 76-year-old drug trafficker apologized to victims, took full responsibility for his actions and stated: 'No one wins in a war like this'. He also urged younger generations to choose a path different from crime.
Zambada pleaded guilty in August 2025 to 17 charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering and organized crime. The ruling includes payment of 15 billion dollars. His lawyer, Frank Perez, clarified that no cooperation agreement exists with US authorities to accuse Mexican officials.
Zambada was captured on July 25, 2024, at an airport near El Paso, Texas, following an operation involving Joaquín Guzmán López. Prosecutor Joseph Nocella reiterated that the United States does not approve kidnappings and will not grant preferential treatment for that action.
