He Mexican drug trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambadaof 76 years, accepted the life sentence that he faces in the United States, according to a document presented this Monday by his defense before the Federal Court for the Eastern District of New York. In the document, his lawyers requested that it not be sent to a maximum security prison and that he receives adequate medical care while serving the sentence.
The letter was delivered to the judge Brian M. Coganwho will be in charge of issuing the sentence. In it, the lawyers assure that Zambada pleaded guilty fully aware that the legal consequence would be a life sentenceso you are not requesting a sentence lower than that established by law.
Furthermore, the defense maintains that since his arrival in the United States, almost two years ago, the accused expressed his intention to plead guilty, avoided taking the case to trial and did not present prior motions, which, according to the brief, saved time and resources for the judicial system.
The lawyers also emphasize that “The May” did not provide “substantial assistance” to the US authorities nor does he intend to do so in the future to obtain a reduction in his sentence. Instead, they asked that the judge take into consideration his conduct during the process when recommending the prison where he will serve his sentence.
The sentence will be on July 20
Zambada, considered for decades one of the main leaders of the Sinaloa Cartelpleaded guilty in August 2025 of various crimes related to drug trafficking and organized crime.
The hearing at which his sentence will be handed down was scheduled for July 20date on which Judge Cogan must confirm the sentence of life imprisonment and issue a recommendation on the establishment of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in which it will remain.
This is how he came to the United States
The drug trafficker was arrested on July 25, 2024when he arrived in the United States with Joaquín Guzmán Lópezson of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmánin a private aircraft that landed near El Paso, Texas.
According to the version presented by the defense and recognized by Guzmán López before the US justice system, “The May” He was deceived and forcibly transferred to be handed over to the authorities of that country, who assumed his custody at the time of landing.
His capture put an end to decades in which he remained as one of the most influential and elusive leaders in the world. Sinaloa Cartelone of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world.
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