Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada appeared in a New York court on Monday to face sentencing to life imprisonment. During the hearing, Judge Brian Cogan acknowledged the physical and cognitive decline facing the long-time leader of the Sinaloa Cartel and recommended that his health condition be taken into account during his incarceration.
During the session at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York—attended by journalist Arturo Ángel, whose reporting provided the details of the drug lord’s statements—the judge noted that both U.S. prosecutors and Zambada García’s defense team agreed that he is suffering from health issues.
Cogan referred to medical information included in the sentencing memorandum submitted by the drug trafficker’s lawyers—the details of which remain under seal—to point out that he is on the verge of cognitive decline.
The judge explained that he would recommend to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that the drug trafficker be sent to a correctional facility with specialized medical care—a request previously made by the defense in light of the physical and mental ailments he is facing.
