Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as “El Mayo,” has pleaded guilty to charges of leading a continuing criminal enterprise and racketeering. Zambada Garcia, 75, is recognized as a co-founder and principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, an organization identified by U.S. authorities as one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking groups globally.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “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.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida commented on the significance of the conviction: “After years of evading justice, Zambada Garcia has been brought to account. With his conviction, his reign of violence and terror is over. He will never again direct a cartel that fueled addiction, spread violence, and tore apart families and communities on both sides of our border. This outcome was made possible by the tireless work of our law enforcement partners in the United States and abroad, whose courage and persistence dismantled the Sinaloa Cartel’s operations and delivered long-overdue justice to its victims.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti highlighted law enforcement efforts: “For decades, under El Mayo’s leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel made billions of dollars by importing poisonous drugs to the United States, flooding our streets with cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. El Mayo’s conviction is the latest milestone in the Department’s historic efforts to eliminate the harms wrought by cartels and bring their leaders to justice in American courtrooms. The Criminal Division and our partners will continue our relentless pursuit of these notorious criminal organizations to ensure that they are held accountable and to make our communities safer.”
FBI Director Kash Patel added: “Today’s plea is a proud moment for the FBI and its partners as the founders of a notoriously violent drug trafficking organization, one that engages in an array of illegal activity including murder and corruption, face the consequences of their actions. Our work does not end here. We will continue to relentlessly leverage everything at our disposal in our efforts to thwart the Sinaloa Cartel and put an end to their drug trafficking operations and the carnage that goes along with it.”
Administrator Terrance Cole from DEA stated: “Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada led one of the world’s deadliest cartels, pumping fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and meth into our communities. His guilty plea proves no cartel boss is beyond the reach of justice. By taking him down, we are protecting American families and cutting off a pipeline of poison. DEA and our partners will not stop until every cartel network is dismantled.”
Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd M. Lyons spoke about HSI New York’s role: “After years of painstaking work, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York secured a superseding indictment last year charging Ismael Zambada with fentanyl trafficking. Now, one of the world’s most prolific and dangerous drug traffickers is going to face justice for the lives he’s stolen and illicit profits he’s raked in. This is more than a win for HSI. It’s a win for American people.”
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella for Eastern District New York remarked on accountability: “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 U.S federal prison cells without possibility parole… Today’s guilty plea was possible because work law enforcement personnel United States Mexico elsewhere…We hope that their hard work…can provide measure solace countless victims Zambada Garcia narcotics trafficking violence families.”
U.S Attorney Justin R Simmons Western District Texas explained regional impact: “For decades Western District Texas has been front lines fight against Sinaloa Cartel…Under Zambada Garcia’s leadership…trafficked thousands kilograms narcotics through border infiltrating every city country leading thousands deaths communities imprisoning millions within walls addiction enriching himself process…Now like co-conspirator El Chapo Guzman Zambada Garcia pay price life lawlessness using ‘whole government’ approach employed case continue systematically eradicate Mexican drug cartels bring others justice who enrich themselves detriment Americans.”
Zambada Garcia faced indictments across multiple districts including Eastern District New York (EDNY), Western District Texas (WDTX), District Columbia Northern District Illinois Southern Central California.
His guilty plea results from joint prosecution involving U.S Attorneys Brooklyn Miami Narcotic Dangerous Drug Section Criminal Division (NDDS). The agreement allows transfer WDTX indictment plea sentencing EDNY; remaining indictments dismissed at sentencing.
The indictments detail his role as principal leader continuing criminal enterprise from January 1989 through January 2024 alongside participation money laundering murder kidnapping conspiracies between Jan 1 2000 April 11 2012.
The Sinaloa Cartel began operations focused on cocaine distribution but expanded over time—including production large quantities fentanyl trafficked into United States using precursor chemicals from Chinese companies—with profits laundered back Mexico supporting growth transportation networks moving multi-ton shipments via land air sea routes.
Under his direction after partner Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s capture in 2016 brutal tactics such as violence intimidation bribes corruption among officials allowed continued operation scale described by witnesses at previous high-profile trials.
Sentencing is scheduled Jan 13 2026 where he faces mandatory minimum life imprisonment with additional $15 billion forfeiture judgment per plea agreement.
The investigation was conducted jointly by FBI HSI DEA; prosecution led by attorneys from NDDS Southern District Florida Eastern District New York supported by other districts nationwide.
Operation Take Back America coordinated federal resources targeting organized crime transnational criminal organizations seeking disruption elimination such groups while supporting community safety initiatives including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Further details available via www.nyed.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.nyed.uscourts.gov under case number 09-cr-466.
