"El Mayo" Zambada Asks Judge to Consider Health in Sentencing, Accepts No Freedom

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, once a prominent leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, has formally requested that his deteriorating health and ongoing cooperation be taken into account as he awaits sentencing. In a document submitted to Judge Brian M. Cogan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Zambada's lawyer, Frank Pérez, highlighted his client's age of 76 and "complex health issues."

Zambada, who voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities two years ago after claiming he was deceived and kidnapped by Joaquín Guzmán, son of "El Chapo" Guzmán, has unequivocally accepted responsibility for the drug trafficking charges against him. He is aware that his sentence will prevent any future possibility of release, a fate he contrasts with that of "El Chapo," who is serving a life sentence in isolation.

Through his legal representation, Zambada is seeking a recommendation for transfer to a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) medical facility equipped to handle his specific needs, such as FMC Butner or FMC Rochester. This request is contingent on BOP's security classification and designation authority.

Pérez emphasized that Zambada instructed him from the outset to make it clear that he would plead guilty, foregoing any trial or litigation. This decision, he argued, has spared the court system the complexity of one of history's most significant federal trials, saved considerable judicial and prosecutorial resources, and eliminated or significantly reduced security concerns for all parties involved, including potential risks to victims and witnesses.