Executive Summary
- Sentencing for Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada has been postponed to April 2026.
- Defense attorney Frank Perez requested the delay to prepare a sentencing memorandum.
- Zambada previously pleaded guilty to racketeering and drug trafficking charges in New York.
- The case involves complex allegations regarding Zambada’s capture and transfer to the U.S. by Joaquin Guzman Lopez.
NEW YORK — A federal judge has postponed the sentencing hearing for Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, until April 2026. The delay was granted by Judge Brian Cogan following a motion from Zambada’s legal team, which requested additional time to prepare for the high-profile proceeding.
According to court filings cited in recent reports, Zambada’s defense attorney, Frank Perez, submitted a request to postpone the hearing to compile a comprehensive “memorandum of sentence.” Perez argued that the defense requires more time due to a lack of critical judicial documents and complications arising from ongoing violence in Mexico. Judge Cogan accepted the defense’s request, rescheduling the sentencing date.
Zambada, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges including racketeering and drug trafficking, has been in U.S. custody since July 2024. He was apprehended near El Paso, Texas, alongside Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of convicted drug lord “El Chapo” Guzman. The circumstances of his capture remain a point of contention; in plea statements, Guzman Lopez admitted to orchestrating Zambada’s ambush and forced transfer to the U.S. to demonstrate cooperation with American authorities, according to Andrew Erskine, an attorney representing the U.S. government.
Zambada has provided a similar account, alleging he was lured to a ranch in Sinaloa under the pretext of mediating a political dispute involving local officials. He claims he was ambushed, hooded, and flown to the United States against his will. The cartel leader is currently being held in New York awaiting his final sentencing.
Procedural Next Steps
The postponement underscores the legal complexities surrounding the sentencing of a high-value target with significant geopolitical implications. The sentencing memorandum is a pivotal document in federal court, often used to present mitigating factors that could influence the judge’s final decision. This delay allows the defense to gather necessary evidence and navigate logistical hurdles related to the defendant’s background and the circumstances of his extradition. It is important to note that while guilty pleas have been entered in this specific case, all individuals involved in related allegations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
