Sinaloa Cartel Founding Member 'El Mayo' Zambada Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in the USA

Ismail 'El Mayo' Zambada, known as one of the founders and top leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the United States for drug trafficking charges. The decision announced by Judge Brian Cogan in the federal court in Brooklyn was finalized following the conviction for cocaine and fentanyl trafficking.

Reading a letter in court before the announcement of the decision, the 76-year-old Zambada apologized to the people and families affected by his actions. Calling for an end to the violence in Mexico, Zambada warned young people not to follow the path he took, and he took responsibility by stating that no one can win in such a war.

In addition to the life sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of 15 billion dollars worth of assets in line with the prosecution's request. The defense team, stating that his health condition requires special care, requested that Zambada be transferred to a medical prison, but the prosecution objected to this, arguing that the defendant still has connections with the outside.