NEW YORK.- Judge Brian Cogan said it will be necessary to evaluate whether Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada can face the death penalty for drug trafficking accusations in the Eastern District Court in Brooklyn.
Unlike Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, “El Mayo” Zambada was not extradited from Mexico, which is why prosecutors can consider the death penalty for multiple murderers or people who have committed terrorist acts.
“We will evaluate that,” said Judge Cogan, who declared this judicial process complex, “due to the magnitude.”
“El Mayo” Zambada was wearing the khaki uniform of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, has a pronounced gray mustache and black-tinted hair, but with several visible gray hairs, he looked relaxed and used the device to listen to the Spanish translation of the audience.
Prosecutor Francisco Navarro said that this judicial process is different from that of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán for fentanyl trafficking, an accusation that Zambada faces, according to the recent update in court.
The death penalty is viable at the federal level in all 50 states, but some prosecutors prefer not to seek it in states where it is clearly prohibited, due to possible federal interference in state rules.
The fentanyl accusation against “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, could be the trigger for requesting the death penalty, due to the thousands of deaths due to overdoses with that drug in the United States.
This Friday’s hearing occurred under strict security measures, similar to those applied to the trial of “El Chapo” with federal agents, including elements of the US Marshals, four of whom were close to “El Mayo” Zambada.
The journalists had to pass the metal detector and place their belongings on a tray that would pass through X-rays.
When the room closed, two guards and three federal agents stood in front of the door to prevent anyone else from entering or leaving.
Will Vicente Zambada testify?
Judge Cogan scolded prosecutor Navarro, who requested a decision on the removal of defense attorney Frank Pérez, due to a possible conflict of interest due to the possibility that Vicente Zambada Niebla, alias “El Vicentillo”, son of “El Mayo” Zambada.
“Why did you wait so long to make the request?” Judge Cogan told the prosecutor, who acknowledged that the request was made two days before the hearing, last Wednesday afternoon.
Judge Cogan said that he could not make a decision of that type with such short notice, in addition to asking prosecutors to offer more arguments in this regard and, above all, to have greater clarity about whether “El Vicentillo” will be called to give testimony. who reached an agreement with prosecutors and is free, after collaborating in several investigations and even giving testimony against “El Chapo” Guzmán.