NEW YORK - U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi dodged a question from this newspaper about how the United States managed to arrest Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, amid criticism from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum about the lack of transparency surrounding an operation involving Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of "El Chapo" Guzman.

However, Bondi wanted to acknowledge the collaboration with Mexico, particularly with the sending of more than 50 cartel members to be prosecuted in U.S. courts. The official spoke after "El Mayo" Zambada pleaded "guilty."

Led by several District Attorneys, as well as Acting DEA Commissioner Terry Cole, the Attorney General agreed to answer a few questions after declaring Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada’s change of plea from “not guilty” to “guilty” a success.

She thanked the U.S. agents, but also the Mexican agents for contributing to the fight against organized crime.

“Thank you to our law enforcement officers, both here and in Mexico, who risk their lives daily to protect us and take these violent leaders off the streets,” Bondi said at the start of the conference, which began an hour later than scheduled.

At 11:58 a.m. local time in New York, ‘El Mayo’ Zambada entered the chamber. 10th District Court in Eastern District Court to plead guilty to two crimes on charges in New York and Texas:one for directing a criminal organization for a long period of time and the other under the RICO law, a law on organized crime.

This is the first time that a U.S. Attorney General leads a press conference after a judicial process like the one faced by "El Mayo." On February 4, 2019, then-acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker appeared at the same courthouse, prior to the start of jury deliberations in the trial of "El Chapo" Guzman, but did not hold a press conference.

"This is a historic day," Bondi said. “With today’s statement, the Sinaloa Cartel has been decapitated. Its two founders and leaders, Joaquin Guzman, also known as ‘El Chapo’, and now ‘El Mayo’, have been convicted.”

He added that both partners led the Sinaloa Cartel – which ‘El Mayo’ acknowledged founding 50 years ago – and whose operation “spread like a cancer throughout the hemisphere” with the trafficking of various drugs: cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl.

However, in the hearing where ‘El Mayo’ pleaded “guilty,” fentanyl trafficking was not mentioned, unlike marijuana, heroin and cocaine.

‘El Chapo’ and ‘El Mayo’: the rest of their lives in prison

At the same press conference, the federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella, highlighted that with the recognition of guilt, both 'El Mayo' Zambada and 'El Chapo' Guzman, co-founders of the Sinaloa Cartel, "will spend the rest of their days in federal prison cells in the United States without the possibility of parole."

He highlighted that Nocella, as well as Prosecutor Bondi and other US officials emphasized that 'El Mayo' will face life imprisonment, although his sentence will be confirmed by Judge Cogan on January 13, 2026.

"Today's guilty plea was made possible thanks to the work of law enforcement in the United States, Mexico and other countries," Nocella added.

DEA Administrator Terrance Cole added that the fight against drug trafficking will continue.

"No cartel boss is beyond the reach of justice," he said. “The DEA and our partners will not stop until we dismantle all cartel networks.” At the start of the trial of “El Mayo” Zambada last January, prosecutors considered seeking the death penalty, but Attorney General Bondi acknowledged that this policy will not apply to cartel leaders—now designated terrorist groups by the U.S.—when they are sent through Mexico. “When dealing with Mexico, we cannot seek the death penalty,” Bondi said. “We have always known that, and it is an agreement we have with Mexico. When we bring them into our country, that includes many others. This man is 78 years old, but he will live as if he were on death row.” I assure you. He will live in a cell for the rest of his life.”

Frank Perez, attorney for “El Mayo” Zambada, told this newspaper that his client’s change of plea does not mean he will cooperate with the U.S. in other investigations.

“This is not a cooperation agreement, and I can categorically state that there is no agreement under which he is cooperating with the United States government,” Perez said.