“El Mayo” arrives in a wheelchair at court and the judge rules out an expedited trial

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada attended the first court hearing on his possible trial in El Paso, Texas, in a wheelchair, where Judge Kathleen Cardone described the case as “complex,” at the request of prosecutors.

He highlighted that “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the alleged founding leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, arrived accompanied by his two lawyers Frank Pérez and Ray Velarde, who were also lawyers for Vicente Zambada Niebla, alias “El Vicentillo.”

By classifying the case as complex, Judge Cardone also suspends the “speedy trial” provisions, according to a court document.

“The Motion for Designation of the Case as Complex and Suspension of the Expedited Trial Provisions was considered without opposition,” the order states. “The charges and issues in this case are unusual and complex, the discovery is voluminous, and it is unreasonable to expect adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings and the trial itself within the time limits established by the Expedited Trial Act.”

With information from Luis Chaparro, special for La Opinión.