“Socalj” for Borderland Beat
 |
Ismael Garcia Zambada, better known as “El Mayo” has agreed to move his case to New York after a federal judge had ruled the case should remain in El Paso. The federal judge denied the government’s motion to transfer Zambada to New York from El Paso.
U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a new motion Thursday, claiming Zambada and his attorney have agreed to move his case to New York. He was arrested on July 25, 2024 on a 2012 warrant issued in connection with a Western District of Texas indictment. In New York, the superseding indictment was filed in February of 2024.
 |
Initial Transfer Request & Denial
“The Government requests that without unnecessary delay a hearing be held […] to provide the defendant with an initial appearance and legal warnings regarding his pending charges in the Eastern District of New York, so that he may be informed of those charges,” the court document released on August 15 states.
 |
 |
However, Perez filed a motion late Thursday afternoon stating Zambada did reach an agreement with federal prosecutors to move the case.
“Defendant (Zambada) does not object to being transferred or transported to EDNY,” U.S. Attorney’s Office officials wrote in the motion. In the notice filed Thursday by Perez, he informed Cardone that Zambada did agree to move his case to New York. He also agreed to waive his right to a speedy trial in the Western District of Texas until after the case is tried in New York.
Although most of the charges against him are for similar crimes, there are some differences between the accusations filed in the Western District Court of Texas and the Eastern District Court of New York.
Texas Indictment
In Texas, El Mayo Zambada was charged alongside “El Chapo” and many others in 2012 with engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, as well as many related charges.
- Murder
- Two counts of continuing criminal enterprise
- Conspiracy to possess narcotics
- Attempt/conspiracy – narcotics – importation/exportation
- Laundering of monetary instruments
- Conspiracy to possess firearm/drug traffickers and aid and abet
New York Indictment
Among the accusations that Zambada faces in New York is his alleged trafficking of fentanyl. These accusations were added in February, when the Department of Justice published a fifth superseding indictment against “El Mayo.”
“As alleged, Zambada Garcia is charged with numerous drug-related offenses, now including the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl,” U.S. Attorney Breon Pearce said at the time.
In the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn, Zambada is facing 17 federal criminal charges.
- Continuing criminal enterprise
- International cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and fentanyl manufacture and distribution conspiracy
- Cocaine importation conspiracy
- Conspiracy to distribute narcotics
- International distribution of cocaine
- 10 counts of cocaine distribution
- Use of firearms
- Conspiracy to launder narcotics proceeds