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Drug Lord ‘El Mayo’ Pleads Not Guilty in New York Court

Zambada led the infamous Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico.
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Drug Lord ‘El Mayo’ Pleads Not Guilty in New York Court
Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in an undated image. U.S. Department of State via AP
Michael Washburn
Sam Dorman
Updated:
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NEW YORK CITY—Former Mexican drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada pleaded not guilty to 17 felony counts, including drug distribution and engaging in a criminal enterprise, in a superseding indictment during a short hearing in New York City on Sept. 13.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James Cho of the Eastern District of New York ordered Zambada, who led the infamous Sinaloa cartel, to jail pending trial. Zambada previously worked with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Guzman was sentenced in the same courthouse five years ago and is currently serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Colorado.

Michael Washburn is a New York-based reporter who covers U.S. and China-related topics for The Epoch Times. He has a background in legal and financial journalism, and also writes about arts and culture. Additionally, he is the host of the weekly podcast Reading the Globe. His books include “The Uprooted and Other Stories,” “When We're Grownups,” and “Stranger, Stranger.”