### El Paso Judge Denies Transfer of ‘El Mayo’ to New York Court
A judge in El Paso, Texas, has refused to transfer Ismael Mario Zambada García, alias “El Mayo,” to a New York court for trial. On September 4, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Cardone denied the request from federal prosecutors to move the 76-year-old Sinaloa cartel leader to the Eastern District of New York.
Judge Cardone emphasized that the charges against Zambada in Texas are equally significant as those in New York, if not more so. “Both in the New York and Texas cases, Zambada is accused of drug trafficking, illegal arms possession, money laundering, and running a continuous criminal enterprise. However, only in the Texas case is he accused of ordering the murder of four identified victims,” the judge stated. Cardone’s decision highlights the particularly severe consequences of Zambada’s alleged criminal activities on the El Paso community.
Addressing the prosecution’s discretion, Judge Cardone noted, “The government had the authority to decide which of the multiple arrest warrants against Zambada to execute when he was taken into custody. Zambada was detained with the warrant from the Western District of Texas.”
The judge also pointed out that the Department of Justice (DOJ) could pursue other avenues to force the transfer, such as dropping the Texas charges or initiating a special procedure in the New York court.
Zambada had previously rejected a U.S. government motion on August 23, 2024, to transfer him to Brooklyn for trial under Judge Brian M. Cogan in the Eastern District of New York.
On August 15, 2024, the DOJ had asked Judge Cardone to prioritize informing Zambada of his New York charges and authorize his transfer. Although Judge Cardone initially determined that “El Mayo” would be transferred to Brooklyn, she allowed Zambada eleven days to oppose the motion.
Defense attorney Frank Pérez argued that there was no reason Zambada should be transferred from Texas when the process was already underway. He also stated that procedural rules only allow one initial hearing per district for each defendant, and Zambada was already set for a hearing in Texas.
### Secondary Article: Recent Developments in Zambada’s Legal Proceedings
In another development, federal prosecutors in El Paso emphasized that Zambada would face his charges in New York before returning to Texas to answer separate accusations. In Texas, Zambada and 23 others face charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, illegal possession of weapons, violent crimes, and murders in support of a criminal organization.
The updated indictment in New York, filed in February 2024, includes 17 major drug trafficking charges involving over 250 tons of cocaine transported by Colombian cartels such as the Valle Norte Cartel, the Luis Caicedo Don Lucho Cartel, and the Cifuentes Villa family. Additionally, Zambada faces charges for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamines, marijuana, heroin, conspiracy to commit murder, and leading a criminal organization from 1989 to January 2024.
The outcome of these legal battles will significantly impact the operations of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world.
**Compare This Development:**
*In a historic ruling, U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan had overseen the trial of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, another leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, who was ultimately sentenced to life in prison. Observers believe that the trial of Zambada could follow a similar trajectory, further unraveling the operations of the cartel.*
**Stay tuned with TJGringo.com for more updates on this evolving story.**