El Mayo Zambada Defense Sentencing Memo Submitted — April 13 Sentencing Nears

March 30, 2026 marks the court-ordered deadline for defense attorney Frank Pérez to submit Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada García's sentencing memorandum to Judge Brian Cogan in the Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn). The US government's response is due April 6, with sentencing scheduled for April 13, 2026. Zambada pleaded guilty to leading a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE) and RICO violations and faces a mandatory minimum of life in federal prison plus a $15 billion money forfeiture judgment — the largest criminal forfeiture ever sought against a drug trafficker. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the case as a 'landmark victory.' Pérez had previously argued that ongoing cartel violence in Sinaloa made it impossible to safely gather witness testimony, though he confirmed there is no cooperation agreement. The sentencing marks the formal legal closure of the Sinaloa Cartel co-founder's 50-year criminal career.