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[CRIME] · United States, Mexico · 71 sources

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US seeks life sentence and $15 billion forfeiture for Sinaloa cartel co‑founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada

U.S. federal prosecutors have filed a motion in the Eastern District of New York, before Judge Brian Cogan, asking that Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García – the co‑founder of the Sinaloa cartel – receive a mandatory life‑sentence and a forfeiture of $15 billion. The request follows Zambada’s guilty plea in August 2025 to 17 counts that include international drug trafficking, organized crime, money‑laundering and firearms offenses. Sentencing is scheduled for 20 July 2026. The $15 billion figure would be the largest forfeiture ever ordered against a Mexican drug lord, exceeding the $12.6 billion seized from Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Prosecutors also allege that Zambada paid millions in bribes to police, military and political officials across Mexico to protect cartel operations. Zambada was captured in July 2024 after a flight from Culiacán to New Mexico, was briefly held in El Paso, Texas, and later transferred to federal custody in New York. The case has sparked diplomatic tension, with Mexican officials questioning the sovereignty implications of the capture and the U.S. government defending the operation.

Sources

2 months ago
about 2 months ago
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Yo no le creo a Ken Salazar [mayacomunicacion.com.mx]
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about 2 months ago
Nueva estrategia en Palacio [www.elfinanciero.com.mx]
2 months ago