### “El Mayo” Opposes Transfer from El Paso, Texas to New York for Trial
Ismael Mario Zambada García, known as “El Mayo,” a prominent figure and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, has expressed opposition to being transferred from El Paso, Texas, to Brooklyn, New York for trial. On August 23, 2024, “El Mayo,” aged 76, rejected a motion by the U.S. government that sought to move him to New York, where he would stand trial under Judge Brian M. Cogan in the Federal Court for the Eastern District of New York.
On August 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice requested Kathleen Cardone, a federal judge for the Western District of Texas in El Paso, to schedule an initial hearing to inform Zambada García of the charges against him in New York and authorize his transfer, prioritizing the legal process there. Judge Cardone, on the same day, ruled for Zambada García’s transfer to Brooklyn, although she did not immediately accept the prosecution’s motion, giving Zambada García eleven days to oppose the transfer.
Defense attorney Frank Pérez argued that the prosecution failed to sufficiently explain why Zambada García should be removed from the Western District of Texas, where legal proceedings were already underway, to be transferred to the Eastern District of New York. He also stated that there was no precedent to justify giving preference to the New York charges over those in El Paso, where a preliminary schedule for the criminal case had already been set.
Pérez further contended that procedural rules allow only one initial hearing per defendant per district where charges are faced; however, the proposal required Zambada García to undergo two initial hearings in the same district.
Federal prosecutors in El Paso had previously asserted in court filings that the Sinaloa cartel leader would face charges in the Eastern District of New York before returning to Texas to address separate allegations.
In Texas, Zambada García and 23 others face charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, possession of weapons for a criminal enterprise, and violent crimes including murder in support of a criminal organization. In New York, the charges were updated in February 2024, encompassing 17 counts such as large-scale drug trafficking of over 250 tons of cocaine, supplied by Colombian cartels, among others. Additional offenses include trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamines, marijuana, heroin, conspiracy to commit homicide, and running a criminal organization from 1989 to January 2024.
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**Additional News on “El Mayo”**
#### U.S. Urges Quick Transfer of “El Mayo” for Major Drug Charges in New York
Officials have emphasized the importance of swiftly transferring Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García from Texas to New York to face critical charges tied to his role in the Sinaloa cartel’s drug trafficking operations. The U.S. Department of Justice cited the extensive and severe nature of the charges in New York, highlighting their priority in the ongoing fight against international drug trafficking and organized crime.
Justice Department officials argue that processing Zambada García in New York ahead of other jurisdictions is essential due to the global implications of his alleged criminal activities. They pointed out that the Eastern District of New York has been the key venue for prosecuting leading figures involved in international drug syndicates.
The New York indictment includes allegations of significant cocaine trafficking connections with Colombian cartels that purportedly extended logistical support to “El Mayo” for decades. Should the transfer proceed, Zambada García will face his trial in a federal court known for handling high-profile drug cases, with Judge Brian M. Cogan potentially presiding over the proceedings again, as he did in the trial of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, another co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel.
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