Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Mayo's Son, 'Mayito Gordo,' Gets 9 Years in Prison but Could Be Released Next Year

Ismael Zambada Imperial, also known as "Mayito Gordo," son of Sinaloa cartel boss Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, was sentenced to nine years in prison by a California judge.

According to Borderland Beat, Judge Danna Sabraw of the federal court of the Southern District of California in San Diego ordered the sentence after a hearing on his drug trafficking charges on Friday.

El Mayo's son will be credited with the years served from November 12, 2014, when he was captured in a joint operation conducted by the Mexican Navy and the federal police in Culiacan, Sinaloa. Thus, he would only have a year left on his sentence, and he may be released in July next year.

Mayito Gordo will continue his imprisonment at the San Diego Metropolitan Detention Center. According to Infobae, there was still no information on whether or not he would be transferred to another prison to serve the rest of his sentence.

The indictment against El Mayo's son alleged that he conspired to transport drugs and laundered and transferred drug proceeds to Mexico "for the benefit of members of the Sinaloa Cartel and their associates."

Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Mayo's Son Pleaded Guilty in 2021

Ismael Zambada Imperial was imprisoned in Mexico on gun charges before he was extradited to San Diego in December 2019.

In April last year, El Mayo's son agreed to plead guilty. In his plea agreement, he admitted to being one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel and importing and distributing tons of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S.

He admitted to having exported at least 450 kilograms of cocaine and 90 kilograms of heroin. Mayito Gordo also admitted to ordering acts of violence for the benefit of the Sinaloa Cartel business.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that El Mayo's son also agreed to forfeit $5 million. The indictment against him also showed the extent of the Sinaloa Cartel's operations.

The Mexican drug cartel used various modes of transportation to move different illegal drugs before stashing them in safe houses in California.

It also revealed a sophisticated money laundering and cash smuggling operation network. The indictment alleged that part of the cash was used to bribe public officials.

According to reports, two of El Mayo's other sons have also been convicted in the U.S.

Vicente Zambada Niebla, who was prosecuted in Chicago, has testified against another Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, during his New York trial.

His younger brother Serafin Zambada Ortiz was also charged in San Diego, but he has already completed his prison sentence. Last April, Ortiz reportedly got involved in a fatal car accident in Sonora, Mexico. His girlfriend died during the crash.

Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada of Sinaloa Cartel

El Mayo and El Chapo were among the people who established the Sinaloa Cartel from the remnants of the Guadalajara Cartel after its leader Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo was arrested in 1989.

The U.S. State Department said it has already increased its offer from $5 million to $15 million for information that will result in the arrest of El Mayo.

El Mayo and El Chapo's four sons, known as "Los Chapitos," were reportedly left in command of the Sinaloa Cartel after El Chapo was arrested and extradited to the U.S. However, reports suggested that there's an internal dispute for total control of the powerful criminal organization.

The Los Chapitos are reportedly looking to assume supreme control of the Sinaloa Cartel and their father's former right-hand man, El Mayo, appears to be their internal enemy number one.

The Sinaloa Cartel is one of Mexico's largest and most powerful drug trafficking organizations. The Mexican drug cartel has been known to carry out assassinations, murders, and torture to protect its turf.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Cartel Leader Known as 'Mayito Gordo' Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charges - From Fox 5 San Diego