Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia was sentenced on July 20 by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan in federal court in Brooklyn to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his role as a principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel and for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations violations.
Zambada Garcia pleaded guilty on August 25, 2025, admitting to being a principal leader of the continuing criminal enterprise and to the RICO charge. As part of his plea agreement, a $15 billion forfeiture money judgment was entered against him at sentencing. The sentence was announced by several law enforcement officials, including Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General; Terrance C. Cole, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration; John A. Condon, Acting Executive Associate Director for Homeland Security Investigations; Jeffrey L. Tyler, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Washington Field Office; Jason A. Reding Quiñones, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and Justin R. Simmons, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., said, “Ismael Zambada Garcia spent nearly four decades poisoning American communities to make billions of dollars in profit and ordering the murders of anyone who stood in his way. Today, that chapter closes for good.” He added that bilateral cooperation between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement made this outcome possible.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said, “Today, narco-trafficker El Mayo was sentenced to life in prison… El Mayo’s conviction is historic… To those who remain: we will find you, we will prosecute you…” DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole stated, “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to every cartel… no matter how powerful you become or how long you evade justice, DEA will not stop pursuing you.”
The Sinaloa Cartel began operations focused on cocaine distribution with South American partners but expanded its role after Colombian traffickers shifted away from direct U.S. distribution networks in favor of Mexican organizations during increased law enforcement activity in Colombia during the 2000s. Under Zambada Garcia’s leadership following El Chapo’s capture in 2016, operations expanded into fentanyl production using precursor chemicals from China and large-scale manufacturing facilities across Mexico.
Authorities noted that corruption at all levels enabled these operations—from local police escorting drugs through Mexico to high-level officials informing about military actions or investigations against cartel activities—and numerous witnesses testified about these practices during trials involving both Sinaloa leaders and former Mexican government officials.
Zambada Garcia faced indictments across six federal jurisdictions before agreeing via plea deal to have cases consolidated under Eastern District jurisdiction where he has now been held accountable; remaining indictments are expected to be dismissed soon.