Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, cofounder and longtime leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty on Monday before U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan in Brooklyn. The Mexican drug lord admitted responsibility for crimes spanning more than three decades, thereby avoiding a public trial but almost certainly securing a life sentence.

Charges Admitted

Zambada pleaded guilty to two main charges: operating a continuing criminal enterprise under the RICO Act and conspiracy to traffic narcotics. These were part of an original 17-count indictment that included large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons charges. In his plea, the cartel boss admitted leading the organization from January 1989 to January 2024, overseeing the smuggling of tons of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl into the United States.

A Detailed Confession

During a five-minute statement, Zambada made several significant admissions. He acknowledged being one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel and described its alliances with Colombian cartels. He admitted ordering the murder of “many people” who worked with him throughout his criminal career and described a longstanding system of bribery involving Mexican police, military officers, and politicians. “I promoted the corruption of authorities in Mexico for 50 years,” he told the court.

Remorse and Consequences

In a rare display of remorse, the cartel leader said: “I recognize the great harm that drugs have caused to the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere. I take responsibility and apologize to those affected by my actions.” His statement contrasted sharply with the typically defiant posture of other extradited traffickers.

No Cooperation Deal

Defense attorney Frank Pérez stressed that the plea does not constitute a cooperation agreement with U.S. authorities. “This is not a cooperation deal, and I can categorically state that there is no agreement under which he is cooperating with the U.S. government or any other government,” Pérez said. He added that his client “is not going to talk about anyone” and that all relevant information about his operations “is already in the evidence” presented by prosecutors.

"El Mayo" Zambada se declara culpable de crimen organizado.
Aceptó dirigir una red criminal por 5 décadas y haber pagado sobornos a militares, políticos y policías en México.
Pagará 15 mil millones de dólares como parte de las negociaciones con EUA. pic.twitter.com/YhSX7VWYtU pic.twitter.com/OuUTCwwhBJ

— Monica Garza (@monicagarzag) August 25, 2025

Judicial Implications

By pleading guilty, Zambada explicitly waived his right to a trial and to appeal his sentence, which will be handed down on January 13, 2026. Judge Cogan informed him that each count carries a potential life term. In addition, the drug lord must forfeit assets valued at $15 billion, which the U.S. government calculated as the illicit proceeds of his criminal operations.

Operational Context

Zambada’s capture remains shrouded in mystery. He was arrested in July of last year after landing at Santa Teresa Airport in New Mexico on a small plane with Joaquín Guzmán López, one of “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons. According to reports, Guzmán López may have set a trap that led to his arrest. Both Joaquín and his brother Ovidio Guzmán are currently negotiating plea deals with U.S. authorities.

Zambada’s decision to plead guilty comes after the Justice Department announced it would not seek the death penalty in his case, nor in that of fellow veteran trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero. The move appears to reflect a broader strategy by the Sinaloa Cartel to avoid the public scrutiny of trials like the one that exposed its inner workings during El Chapo’s 2019 proceedings.

Monday’s 45-minute hearing was attended by about 30 journalists and dozens of DEA agents, underscoring the historic significance of the case in the United States’ fight against international drug trafficking.