Ismael Zambada Garcia, known as El Mayo and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty in Miami to charges related to leading a continuing criminal enterprise and racketeering. Zambada Garcia, 75, has been recognized as a principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, which U.S. authorities describe as one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations 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 this 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 noted the impact on U.S. communities: “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 emphasized continued efforts: “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 said: “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 added: “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 the illicit profits he’s raked in. This is more than a win for HSI. It’s a win for the American people.”
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella for Eastern District of New York stated: “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 of parole... We hope that their hard work and pleas can provide a measure of solace to countless victims...”
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for Western District Texas remarked on local impacts: “Under Zambada Garcia’s leadership... thousands died... millions imprisoned within addiction... Under Zambada Garcia's leadership... [the] war directly affected not just Juarez but also El Paso residents...” He further noted that Zambada Garcia would now be held accountable like his co-conspirator El Chapo Guzman.
Zambada Garcia faced indictments from several districts across New York (EDNY), Texas (WDTX), District Columbia (DC), Illinois (NDIL), Southern California (SDCA), Central California (CDCA). The joint prosecution involved offices from Brooklyn (EDNY), Miami (SDFL), DOJ Criminal Division Narcotic & Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS). As part of his plea agreement transferring WDTX indictment sentencing proceedings to EDNY jurisdiction; remaining indictments will be dismissed at sentencing.
The indictments charged him with being principal leader since 1989 through January 2024; WDTX indictment included RICO conspiracy charges covering money laundering; murder; drug conspiracies; violations between Jan 1 2000–April 11 2012.
Authorities say Zambada Garcia rose with inception Cartel—previously called Mexican Federation—in late 1980s; it imported narcotics including cocaine/heroin/meth/fentanyl into U.S., laundered billions back into Mexico via extensive networks using land/air/sea transport assets.
Under his leadership after partner El Chapo's capture in 2016 Cartel expanded into fentanyl production/distribution using chemicals sourced from China—operating labs throughout Mexico targeting U.S markets.
Bribery/corruption among Mexican officials/law enforcement facilitated large-scale operation—witnesses testified about protection provided by corrupt police/military officials enabling drug shipments through Mexico/U.S., impeding law enforcement action.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 13th 2026; mandatory minimum term life imprisonment plus maximum life sentence on RICO count; $15 billion forfeiture judgment agreed at sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by FBI/HSI/DEA; prosecution led by attorneys from DOJ NDDS/SDFL/EDNY/WDTX with support from other districts.
This case forms part Operation Take Back America—a national initiative utilizing resources across DOJ agencies including OCDETFs/PSN aimed at combating illegal immigration/cartels/transnational organized crime impacting U.S communities.
Further information available via District Court Southern District Florida website www.nyed.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.nyed.uscourts.gov under case number 09-cr-466.
