Facing a non-negotiable life sentence, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García—co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel—was sentenced this Monday, July 20, to die in a U.S. prison. During the hearing, he took the opportunity to send a message to both the criminal organization’s victims and its members, urging an end to the war that has persisted since his capture in late 2024.
The drug trafficker appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York wearing a long-sleeved orange jumpsuit with a short-sleeved khaki shirt over it. Unshackled and showing clear signs of physical decline, Zambada García read a letter before hearing his sentence, in which he asked for forgiveness for his crimes.
“I accept responsibility for my role in all of this and apologize to everyone who has suffered or been affected by my actions,” the Mexican drug lord stated.
He further acknowledged responsibility for his deeds, saying: “There is no justification for what I did. I accept the punishment I am to receive. There is no making up for it. I deeply regret the harm caused.”
The Sinaloa Cartel co-founder—who had never previously been arrested in Mexico—also noted that there were no excuses for his actions, but that violence was the only thing he had known since childhood.
