{"id":2478843,"date":"2025-08-26T06:46:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T10:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/notorious-cartel-leader-el-mayo-who-made-billions-in-drug-trade-pleads-guilty-in-us-court\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T06:48:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T10:48:42","slug":"notorious-cartel-leader-el-mayo-who-made-billions-in-drug-trade-pleads-guilty-in-us-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/notorious-cartel-leader-el-mayo-who-made-billions-in-drug-trade-pleads-guilty-in-us-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Notorious cartel leader \u2018El Mayo\u2019, who made billions in drug trade, pleads guilty in US court"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnotorious-cartel-leader-el-mayo-who-made-billions-in-drug-trade-pleads-guilty-in-us-court%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2478843&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The notorious drug cartel leader Ismael Zambada Garcia, known as &#8220;El Mayo&#8221; and chief of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn federal court in the united States. Arrested in July 2024, Zambada Garcia admitted too being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise and was charged under racketeering laws. The Sinaloa cartel is one of the most dangerous drug trafficking organizations globally, involved in smuggling cocaine from Colombia through Mexico into the U.S. he also confessed to bribing Mexican law enforcement and military officials to facilitate drug trafficking operations.<\/p>\n<p>Zambada Garcia acknowledged the severe harm caused by illegal drugs in both the U.S. and Mexico and took duty for his actions. U.S.authorities, including Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, hailed the guilty plea as a major victory in the fight against drug trafficking and cartel violence. Bondi announced that Zambada Garcia will spend the rest of his life in prison, emphasizing this outcome as a significant step towards protecting American communities from drugs and associated crimes.The Justice Department highlighted the ongoing effort to dismantle cartel operations and hold their leaders accountable for decades of criminal activity, including murder and corruption. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Notorious cartel leader &lsquo;El Mayo&rsquo;, who made billions in drug trade, pleads guilty in US court<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2212359\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The U.S. Department of Justice celebrated the guilty plea of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3100293\/deadly-sinaloa-cartel-leader-el-mayo-arrested-in-texas-doj\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-massive-drug-submarines-recovered-on-opposite-ends-of-the-world\/\" title=\"Two Massive ... Submarines Recovered On Opposite Ends Of The World\">notorious drug kingpin<\/a> and cartel leader Ismael Zambada Garcia<\/a> in a Brooklyn federal court on Monday. He was initially arrested in July 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Known as &ldquo;El Mayo&rdquo; and the chief leader of the dangerous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/3486550\/jalisco-new-generation-cartel-rising-in-mexico\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sinaloa Cartel<\/a>, one of the most harmful drug trafficking organizations in the world, Zambada Garcia pleaded guilty to &ldquo;being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise&rdquo; and a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations charge, according to a release from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Department of Justice<\/a>. He was previously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/co-founder-sinaloa-cartel-ismael-el-mayo-zambada-garcia-pleads-guilty-engaging-continuing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">charged in multiple districts throughout the country<\/a>, including the Central District of California, the District of Columbia, the Eastern District of New York, and the Southern District of California, among others.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3780099\/where-the-remaining-trump-legal-cases-stand\/\">Where the remaining legal cases against Trump stand<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3782133\/lisa-cook-not-leaving-fed-reserve\/\">Lisa Cook says she&rsquo;s not leaving Fed Reserve, says Trump has &lsquo;no authority&rsquo; to fire her<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3782086\/hugo-gurdon-stabbing-germany-due-to-open-borders\/\">Hugo Gurdon says stabbing in Germany isn&#8217;t unique due to open borders<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Zambada Garcia&rsquo;s guilty plea validated years of suspicions of the Sinaloa Cartel&rsquo;s operation in the Western Hemisphere, including a drug trafficking operation which extended from cocaine dealers in Colombia, South America, shipments of the drug to Mexico, and smuggling the product into the U.S., CNN reported. The cartel leader admitted to bribing Mexican law enforcement officers and military leaders to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/08\/25\/us\/el-mayo-drug-lord-guilty-plea\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;operate freely&rdquo;<\/a> where they could have easy access to traffic drugs into the U.S.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I recognize the great harm illegal drugs have done to the people in the United States and Mexico,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/el-mayo-zambada-garcia-guilty-plea\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> Zambada Garcia through a Spanish-language interpreter, according to the Associated Press. &ldquo;I apologize for all of it, and I take responsibility for my actions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dD6jJZPxnwE?si=nA0AnZIeH0j4Xj7D\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>    <\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that Zambada Garcia would spend the rest of his life in prison. She also lauded how his arrest made the country a safer place, protecting people in the country from drugs and violent crime.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This foreign terrorist committed horrific crimes against the American people &mdash; he will now pay for those crimes by spending the rest of his life behind bars in an American prison,&rdquo; said Bondi. &ldquo;Today marks a crucial victory in President Trump&rsquo;s ongoing fight to completely eliminate foreign terrorist organizations and protect American citizens from deadly drugs and violence.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>FBI Director <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kash-patel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kash Patel<\/a> shared Bondi&rsquo;s excitement for holding Zambada Garcia accountable for his crimes, which harmed many American citizens through addiction and acts of violence. Patel vowed to continue efforts to stop the Sinaloa Cartel altogether.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s plea is a proud moment for the FBI and its partners as the founders of a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >notoriously violent drug trafficking organization<\/a>, one that engages in an array of illegal activity including murder and corruption, face the consequences of their actions,&rdquo; said Patel. &ldquo;Our work does not end here. We will continue to relentlessly leverage everything at our disposal in our efforts to thwart the Sinaloa Cartel and put an end to their drug trafficking operations and the carnage that goes along with it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department&rsquo;s Criminal Division touted Zambada Garcia&rsquo;s guilty plea as a victory that would make the nation&rsquo;s &ldquo;communities safer.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;For decades, under El Mayo&rsquo;s leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel made billions of dollars by importing poisonous drugs to the United States, flooding our streets with cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/co-founder-sinaloa-cartel-ismael-el-mayo-zambada-garcia-pleads-guilty-engaging-continuing\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> Galeotti. &ldquo;El Mayo&rsquo;s conviction is the latest milestone in the Department&rsquo;s historic efforts to eliminate the harms wrought by cartels and bring their leaders to justice in American courtrooms.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Criminal Division and our partners will continue our relentless pursuit of these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/major-mexican-drug-cartel-claims-its-banning-production-of-fentanyl-experts-are-skeptical\/\" title=\"Mexican cartel bans fentanyl production, doubts arise.\">notorious criminal organizations<\/a> to ensure that they are held accountable and to make our communities safer, he added.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cartel leader &#8216;El Mayo&#8217; pleads guilty in US court<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2478844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/El-Mayo.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[61993,36243,32750,61992],"class_list":["post-2478843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-drug-trade","tag-el-mayo","tag-guilty-plea","tag-notorious-cartel-leader"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/El-Mayo.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2478843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2478843"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2478843\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2478847,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2478843\/revisions\/2478847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2478844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2478843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2478843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2478843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}