El Mayo’s Big Shift: From “Innocent” to “Guilty” and a $15 Billion Fine
Picture this: A 75‑year‑old cartel kingpin, known as “El Mayo,” drops a courtroom confession that could have nicknamed him “Mr. Free‑For‑All.” He says “I’m guilty,” and the U.S. tosses a tsunami of fees—$15 Billion—on top. But the verdict? No death sentence, just a life sentence.
From 19‑Year‑Old Weed Planting to a 2‑Decade‑Long Bad‑Business Empire
Zambada’s crime career began back in 1969 when he planted some good‑old‑fashioned marijuana in the rugged Sinaloa hills. By the early 90s, he was inside a sprawling drug network that smuggled massive loads of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl into America and beyond.
Bribes, Murder‑Hires, and “Impunity”
- He bribed Mexican politicians, high‑ranking military officials, and police officers to keep his cartel running like a well‑orchestrated machine.
- He ordered hitmen to eliminate rivals—an unsanctioned “clean‑up” that kept competition at bay.
- He said, “I recognize the great harm illegal drugs have caused in the U.S., Mexico, and elsewhere.”
Life Imprisonment: The Final Act
After pleading guilty to a racketeering conspiracy and owning a criminal enterprise responsible for flooding the U.S. with bad‑tobacco drugs, Zambada faces a mandatory life sentence. While the courtroom drama unraveled, his fine and the absence of the death penalty make him a bit less “deadly” than previously imagined.
Why the Death Sentence Was Avoided
The authorities decided not to hand the cartel king a death penalty in favor of a life sentence—perhaps because the evidence didn’t fit a death sentence or the focus was rather on his continuing impact. In any case, the 75‑year‑old is now savored by the fine alarm that adroitly keeps his name in public-facing headlines.
Most Read on Euro Weekly News
UK bank checks on transfers, set to cause expat headache
Bullfighter dies in first Lisbon show, spectator also dies
France tells hospitals to be war-ready by March 2026
‘He will never walk free again’
Breaking News: El Mayo, the “Sinaloa Maestro,” Faces a 15‑Billion‑Dollar Ticket
New York – Feds are putting the finishing nail on a cartel legend: Gonzalo “El Mayo” Zambada’s upcoming sentencing is set for January 13, 2026, and the judge has slapped him with a staggering US$15 billion fine.
What’s the Deal?
For decades, El Mayo ran the Sinaloa cartel wheel, partnering with the infamous Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán—now a life‑sentence inmate at a tough Colorado prison. The charges against him are as heavy as a freight train.
Official “Message” from the Attorney General
- “They brutally murdered multiple people and flooded our country with drugs,” rattled Gabby Bondi to reporters.
- “Their reign of terror is over.”
- Specifically about Zambada: “This foreign terrorist committed horrific crimes against the American people. He will now pay for those crimes by spending the rest of his life behind bars in an American prison. He will never walk free again.”
The “Grand Entrée” into the U.S.
Zambada was nabbed near El Padre, Texas, on July 25, in a scene that looked like a bad plot twist from a crime drama. He claims he was tricked into heading to the U.S. by one of “El Chapo’s” sons, Joaquin Guzmán Lopez.
Lopez allegedly lured El Mayo to a “meeting” with the influential Sinaloan politician Melesio Cuen—who was also the dean of the Sinaloa Autonomous University. The twist? Cuen was killed on the very same day.
Why the “Vengeance”?
- Cartel insiders say the son was avenging countless acts of treason alleged to have been committed by Zambada over the years.
- Lopez is currently pleading not guilty to U.S. drug‑trafficking charges; prosecutors have said the death penalty won’t be on the table.
- U.S. officials confirm Zambada didn’t voluntarily travel to the U.S. but was deceived by Guzmán’s sons who, funnily enough, handed themselves over to officials for a sweeter deal.
Final Thoughts
It’s a full‑contact case that reads like a page out of a Hollywood thriller, but the stakes for the U.S. are high. The 15‑billion fine and life‑sentence signal that the authorities are not letting this cartel boss slip through the cracks any longer.
El Mayo will not ‘rat out’ anybody
Zambada’s Lawyer Says He’s Tuckered Out of Betrayal
Frank Pérez, the attorney representing the famed “El Mayo” Zambada, was at the front of the courthouse after the hearing, grinning like it’s all just a day at the office. He told reporters, “My client is not going to help the U.S. press the AIDS. In no way does he want to point fingers, unlike his son Vicente, who flipped a switch for a payoff to get out of a Chicago cell.”
Back in 2019, Vicente testified that his dad’s bribery budget ran hot—up to a cool $1 million a month—until it got stuck in the pockets of high‑level Mexican officials. Pérez hammered home that the “bribe info” has already been scrubbed from other drug‐trafficking trials: “Everything he said is already in other trials; he only said what was necessary. He’s not going to talk about anyone. The information about ‘El Mayo’ Zambada stays with El Mayo.”
He also made it crystal clear that his client will not profit from the plea and, citing the chances, basically says the trafficker will never walk out of jail. He added that the pursuit of freedom isn’t going to bake a sweet deal for Zambada.
Why It’s a Mix‑Up in the Cartel
Zambada’s capture and a fresh accusation of treason from “El Chapo”’s sons sparked a showdown inside the cartel. The fallout’s been brutal: the region of Sinaloa has suffered almost 2,000 murders and countless people still missing.
Key Takeaways
- Lawyer’s Shield – Pérez claims he will keep his client’s secrets.
- Past Bribe Talk – Vicente’s 2019‑year testimony already set the record.
- No Deal, No Release – Zambada is not headed for a plea bargain payoff.
- Cartel Chaos – The internal battle’s cost nearly 2,000 lives.
All in a day’s play for a man who for years has been rumored to run money in the shadow—yet, as Pérez says, he’s not about to “spill the beans” for anybody. The ensuing court dramas keep the gutters where drama and danger are mingled—in the end, it feels like watching a high‑stakes poker game where everyone wants to be the last one standing.
