The US Attorney’s Office announced that it will not seek the death penalty against Mexicans Ismael Zambada García, known as El Mayo; Rafael Caro Quintero; and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, known as El Viceroy; all in Washington custody and facing pending drug trafficking charges.
In three letters, sent separately to the judges overseeing each case—opened in the District Court for Eastern New York, based in Brooklyn County—Prosecutor Joseph Nocella explained that the order came directly from the Department of Justice and its presiding judge, Pamela Bondi.
For the Mayo case, a letter was sent to Judge Brian Cogan; for the Caro Quintero case, a letter was sent to Frederick Block; and for the Viceroy case, a letter was sent to Joan M. Azrack.
“Dear Judge Cogan: The government respectfully submits this letter to inform the court and the defense that the Attorney General (Bondi) has authorized and directed this office not to seek the death penalty against the defendant Ismael Zambada García,” the letter reads.
Regarding the decision, the drug lord’s attorney, Frank Pérez, said it was a fair decision, although he denied having any information about the reasons behind it.
“We welcome the U.S. government’s decision not to seek the death penalty against our client. This represents an important step toward achieving a fair and equitable resolution,” Pérez noted. “I have no information regarding that (the reasons),” he said.
On the other hand, the attorney emphasized that negotiations for a plea agreement with the U.S. government—which were initially the turning point for the capital punishment to be taken off the table—are continuing.
“We are currently working with the government to achieve a resolution of our client’s pending legal matters,” he added.
El Mayo Zambada, founder and leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, faces 17 counts of organized crime and trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin, as well as firearms and money laundering, all in the Eastern District Court of New York, in the same criminal case as his former partner and compadre, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, known as El Chapo.
His next appearance is scheduled for August 25, now with the death penalty ruled out.
Zambada arrived on U.S. soil by small plane on July 25, 2024, after falling into a trap set by Joaquín Guzmán López, known as El Güero, son of El Chapo, to grant him and his brother Ovidio—who had already been extradited—a plea agreement and collaboration.
Meanwhile, Caro Quintero, founder of the Guadalajara cartel, faces four charges of organized crime and trafficking marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, in addition to the use of firearms.
The organized crime case includes charges of participating in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent Enrique Camarena in 1985.
The Camarena case has led the anti-drug squad to place him at the center of its investigations as a priority target, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has not received a plea deal offer. His next hearing is scheduled for September 18.
For his part, El Viceroy—who succeeded his brother Amado Carrillo, El Señor de los Cielos, as head of the Juárez cartel—faces seven charges of organized crime, cocaine trafficking, use of firearms, and money laundering.
The Viceroy has been in talks with the U.S. Attorney’s Office almost from the start of his case, seeking a plea deal, and is expected to appear on September 30th as part of his criminal and negotiation process.
