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Sinaloa Cartel Leader "El Mayo" Zambada Sentenced to Life in Prison, Apologizes for Crimes
🇲🇽 Mexico /Crime & Justice

Sinaloa Cartel Leader "El Mayo" Zambada Sentenced to Life in Prison, Apologizes for Crimes

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison in New York.
  • He apologized for his crimes and urged young people to reject violence.
  • The court also ordered the confiscation of $15 billion from Zambada.

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a former co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, has been sentenced to life in prison in the Eastern District of New York. Appearing visibly frail, Zambada pleaded guilty to his crimes and used his final statement to apologize and implore young people to abandon the path of violence.

I accept responsibility for my acts. There is no justification for what I did.

— Ismael "El Mayo" ZambadaZambada read a prepared statement in court before his sentencing.

"I accept responsibility for my actions. There is no justification for what I did," Zambada stated in Spanish, reading from a prepared declaration. He expressed deep regret for the harm caused, adding, "I accept the punishment I am going to receive." Zambada, who was apprehended near New Mexico on July 25, 2024, emphasized that violence must end, lamenting the loss of lives and the destruction of families. He warned that "no one will win this war."

I accept the punishment I am going to receive.

— Ismael "El Mayo" ZambadaThe former cartel leader addressed the court prior to his sentencing.

The judge, Brian Cogan, sentenced Zambada to life imprisonment and ordered the forfeiture of $15 billion. Zambada had previously agreed to this financial penalty. The specific prison where he will serve his sentence is yet to be determined, though the judge indicated he would recommend consideration of Zambada's medical condition. The court acknowledged that Zambada's guilty plea saved the U.S. government the considerable expense and effort of a trial.

I regret very much the harm caused.

— Ismael "El Mayo" ZambadaZambada expressed remorse for his past actions in his court statement.

Zambada also made a special appeal to younger generations, urging them to "choose a path different from violence." He stated, "I cannot change what I did, but I can take responsibility." This sentencing follows that of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, "El Chapo," Zambada's former partner, who is already serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison in Colorado. Zambada claims he was betrayed and kidnapped by Guzmán's son, who was arrested alongside him.

Violence must end in Mexico and everywhere. Too many lives are lost. Families are destroyed. Young people are dragged into a life without a future.

— Ismael "El Mayo" ZambadaZambada spoke about the devastating impact of violence during his court appearance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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