Ismael Zambada Garcia, known as “El Mayo,” pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to leading the Sinaloa Cartel and other related charges. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan.
Zambada Garcia admitted to being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise, specifically the Sinaloa Cartel, which is recognized as one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations globally. He also pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges. As part of his plea agreement, he faces a mandatory minimum life sentence without parole for leading a criminal enterprise and up to life imprisonment on the RICO count. Additionally, he agreed to a $15 billion forfeiture money judgment.
The charges stem from indictments filed in multiple jurisdictions, including the Eastern District of New York, Western District of Texas, District of Columbia, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of California, and Central District of California. The joint prosecution involved U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Brooklyn and Miami and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section of the Criminal Division.
Through his plea agreement, Zambada Garcia accepted responsibility for conduct covered by indictments from both New York and Texas. Remaining indictments will be dismissed at sentencing.
The government outlined that Zambada Garcia led the Sinaloa Cartel from its inception until his arrest in July 2024. Under his leadership, the organization imported large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States over several decades. In recent years, operations expanded into fentanyl production using precursor chemicals sourced from China.
The cartel’s profits enabled it to build an extensive transportation network for narcotics distribution across land, air, and sea routes into the United States. Authorities stated that violence and corruption were used routinely under Zambada Garcia’s leadership to protect cartel activities and evade law enforcement efforts.
Multiple witnesses have testified about widespread corruption facilitating cartel operations at various levels—from local police escorting shipments within Mexico to officials informing on military actions or investigations against cartel members.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi commented: “This foreign terrorist committed horrific crimes against the American people — he will now pay for those crimes by spending the rest of his life behind bars in an American prison. Today marks a crucial victory in President Trump’s ongoing fight to completely eliminate foreign terrorist organizations and protect American citizens from deadly drugs and violence.”
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella said: “With today’s guilty pleas, ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia and ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, the two co-founders of the Sinaloa Cartel—one of the largest, most violent and most destructive cartels in history—will live out the rest of their days in United States federal prison cells without the possibility of parole… We hope that their hard work and the pleas can provide a measure of solace to the countless victims of Zambada Garcia’s narcotics trafficking and violence and their families.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti added: “For decades, under El Mayo’s leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel made billions of dollars by importing poisonous drugs to the United States… With El Mayo’s conviction, the Department has now brought both founders of the Sinaloa Cartel to justice…”
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole stated: “Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada led one of the world’s deadliest cartels… His guilty plea proves no cartel boss is beyond reach.”
ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons remarked: “After years of painstaking work… Now one of world’s most prolific drug traffickers is going to face justice for lives he’s stolen… This is more than a win for HSI; it’s a win for American people.”
FBI Director Kash Patel noted: “Today’s plea is a proud moment for FBI… Our work does not end here.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones commented: “After years evading justice… With his conviction his reign is over… This outcome was made possible by tireless work by law enforcement partners.”
United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons said: “For decades Western District Texas has been on front lines against Sinaloa Cartel… Now like co-conspirator El Chapo Guzman Zambada Garcia will pay price for life lawlessness…”
The case was prosecuted by attorneys from several districts with assistance from agencies including FBI, HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), among others.
Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative—was cited as central to this prosecution effort through coordinated use of Department resources targeting organized crime groups.
