In a major legal development, U.S. prosecutors have officially decided not to pursue the death penalty against two of Mexico’s most infamous drug lords… Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Rafael Caro Quintero.
The Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that capital punishment is off the table for both men, who face separate federal prosecutions for large-scale drug trafficking and organized crime. Caro Quintero, 72, is best known for his alleged role in the brutal 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena… a crime that made international headlines. Zambada, 75, is believed to be a key figure in the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, once led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Both men have pleaded not guilty. Although prosecutors had previously weighed the possibility of seeking the death penalty… especially for Caro Quintero, whose top charge carries a mandatory life sentence… Tuesday’s announcement shifts the tone of the case. Legal experts say the decision could open the door for plea negotiations, though no deals have been confirmed.
Defense attorneys welcomed the move but stopped short of revealing any next steps. U.S. officials also confirmed that Attorney General Pam Bondi has instructed prosecutors not to seek capital punishment in a third related case against Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, aka “The Viceroy.” He, too, has pleaded not guilty.
All three men were extradited from Mexico and are currently facing charges in the same Brooklyn federal courthouse that previously brought down El Chapo. No further comments were made by the prosecution after submitting notices to the court.
