The case of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel and a historic figure in Mexico’s drug trade, took a dramatic turn Monday when he pleaded guilty to two charges related to organized crime in a New York court.
During his hearing, Zambada admitted leading a criminal network for five decades and paying bribes to police, military, and political authorities in Mexico to maintain his operations. By waiving his right to a trial, he now faces a mandatory life sentence.
Zambada, 77, made several key admissions during the hearing. He said he began trafficking marijuana in 1969 at age 19 and later expanded into cocaine. He worked with Armando Carrillo in the Juárez Cartel and co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel with Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, trafficking cocaine across Latin America, Mexico, and the United States.
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