El Mayo Zambada pleads guilty in Sinaloa cartel racketeering case

Former Mexican cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada pleaded guilty on Monday to United States federal charges tied to decades of leadership of the Sinaloa cartel, a ruling prosecutors say helped transform the organization into the world’s largest drug trafficking operation. Appearing in a Brooklyn federal court for a change-of-plea hearing, the 77-year-old indicated he would admit guilt to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of running a continuing criminal enterprise. The proceedings come after prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty, a decision previously announced weeks earlier.

Prosecutors said Zambada’s plea acknowledges a long-running, highly organized criminal enterprise responsible for illegal drug trafficking that flooded the United States with cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, among other substances. He had previously entered a not-guilty plea to a broader set of charges, including drug trafficking, firearms offenses and money laundering. Court filings noted that sentencing is anticipated for January, with potential life imprisonment, reflecting the severity of the conduct at issue.

Zambada was arrested last year in Texas and transported to...