**”El Mayo” in a Prison Tougher than Guantánamo: A True Hell**
Ismael Mario Zambada García, also known as “El Mayo,” a 76-year-old co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, has been detained in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York (MCC New York). Zambada, identified by the Bureau of Prisons under registration number 27102-511, appeared for the first time on September 13, 2024, before Judge James R. Cho in the Eastern District Federal Court of New York. He faces 17 charges related to drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and money laundering.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “El Mayo” was transferred to MCC New York, a federal prison in Manhattan known for housing prominent inmates. This facility has been deemed by various sources more severe than Guantánamo Bay. Notably, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, another Sinaloa Cartel leader, was previously held there.
Zambada hails from El Álamo, Culiacán de Rosales, and is currently in solitary confinement in the 10 South wing, a high-security section for dangerous criminals. This area includes notorious figures like financial fraudster Bernard Madoff.
Reports from The New York Times and Esquire describe MCC New York as resembling a “true hell.” Inmates like Uzair Paracha have detailed its harsh conditions, even compared to Guantánamo Bay. The prison’s lights remain on nearly 24 hours a day, and prisoners are under constant surveillance, with limited human interaction.
A memoir by Paracha illustrates the extreme isolation and deteriorating conditions within the prison. Former inmates have reported enduring mental and physical strains from the stringent environment.
Zambada faces the possibility of the death penalty under the “Kingpin Statutes” which mandate severe punishment for major drug traffickers involved in murder or actions causing death. Unlike “El Chapo,” who was extradited under conditions preventing a death penalty request, Zambada’s circumstances do not offer such protection.
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**Secondary Article: “El Mayo” Faces Harsh Conditions at MCC**
A closer look at the notorious MCC New York prison reveals a grim reality for its inmates. Built in 1975, the facility is considered one of the most secure in the U.S., housing approximately 795 prisoners. The 10 South wing, where “El Mayo” is held, is particularly infamous, with constant illumination and stringent isolation measures.
The New York Daily News reported similar conditions, detailing complaints from inmates like Ahmed Ghailani. Ghailani described his time at MCC as more challenging than Guantánamo, citing the lack of recreational activities and minimal human contact.
The Intercept also highlighted cases like Mahdi Hashi, who spent his days in a small cell without natural light and with minimal interaction. These accounts underscore the extreme measures employed at MCC, likening it to a psychological and physical torment for its inmates.
As “El Mayo” navigates the legal system, his experience at MCC will undoubtedly add to the complex narrative of incarceration for major cartel leaders in the U.S.
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For more updates on Zambada’s case and prison conditions, visit TJGringo.com.