El Mayo Zambada Sentencing Postponed a Second Time — Now Set for May 18, 2026

The sentencing of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada García before U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan in the Eastern District of New York was scheduled for April 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM but did not proceed — it was postponed for the second time, now pushed to May 18, 2026. The joint postponement request came from both prosecution and defense; defense attorney Frank Pérez cited difficulty completing the sentencing memorandum, partly attributing it to ongoing cartel violence in Sinaloa that has hampered evidence-gathering and witness access. El Mayo pleaded guilty to leading a continuing criminal enterprise and a RICO charge — offenses that carry mandatory life imprisonment. The US government is also seeking a $15 billion forfeiture, the largest criminal forfeiture ever sought against a single defendant. The second postponement follows the first delay (from an earlier date to April 13) and reflects the procedural complexity of sentencing the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, who was in his 76th year and had never previously been arrested.