Serafín Zambada Ortiz
Serafín Zambada Ortiz | |
---|---|
Born | Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Leticia Ortiz | 27 May 1990
Serafín Zambada Ortiz (born 27 May 1990) is an American convicted drug trafficker and high-ranking member of the
On 20 November 2013, he was arrested by the
Early life and career
Zambada Ortiz was born in
On Twitter and Facebook, Zambada Ortiz uploaded pictures of his extravagant lifestyle filled with luxurious watches, trucks, golden-encrusted weapons, and exotic animals.
Criminal charges
In September 2013, Zambada Ortiz was charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico to the United States through a California grand jury indictment. The court alleged that he imported at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine, but no further details were provided.[15] If sentenced for such charges, he will face one to ten years in prison in the United States and forfeit all the drug proceeds he earned from his criminal activities. Zambada Ortiz was also identified by U.S. authorities by his alias "Sera".[16][17] However, he is not wanted for any criminal charges by Mexican law enforcement. His brother Vicente Zambada Niebla, arrested in Mexico City in 2009, was extradited to the United States and is awaiting trial in the state of Illinois.[18] His uncle Jesús Zambada García (alias "El Rey") was arrested by Mexican authorities in 2008 and extradited to the U.S. on 2012.[19] Zambada Ortiz's father Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada continues to lead the Sinaloa Cartel following the arrest of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, his former co-leader.[20]
Arrest and case
While crossing the international border through Nogales, Arizona from Mexico to do some Christmas shopping,[21] Zambada Ortiz and his wife were arrested by federal agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on 20 November 2013. His wife was released shortly thereafter but he was sent to a prison in Tucson, Arizona.[22] The September charges against Zambada Ortiz had been kept confidential, catching him by surprise while he attempted to cross into the United States legally.[23] On 25 November, the case was moved from Tucson to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego, California.[24] Two days later, he appeared in court in San Diego and pleaded not guilty to the drug trafficking charges. The magistrate ordered Zambada Ortiz to be held without bail and told his attorneys that they could ask for a bail in the next hearing, initially scheduled for 3 January 2014.[25] Outside the courtroom, his attorney stated that the Facebook and Twitter accounts that were used to identify his connection with the Sinaloa Cartel were not his.[12][26]
On 1 January 2014, Zambada Ortiz turned down his right to a
In April 2014, his case was moved to a federal district court in
Though Zambada Ortiz was registered as an inmate at the
Sentence and release
Zambada Ortiz was sentenced to five and a half years in prison on 20 March 2018. While the prosecution stated that Zambada Ortiz's crimes were significant in nature, the hearing was devoid of the typical rhetoric of other high-profile drug-related cases, which include arguments of how much time a defendant should spend behind bars. The prosecution lowered his sentence from the minimum 10-year conviction because they considered that Zambada Ortiz's tumultuous youth, his "genuine remorse", the lack of violence in his criminal career, and the letters the prosecution received from his family and friends who described him as a helpful and kind person. During his hearing, Zambada Ortiz apologized for his crimes and stated that he realized that being involved in the drug trade negatively affected people's lives. He said he was ready to continue with his life and raise his two children with his wife. He also stated that he would finish his college education and help his mother's lychee and mango farm.[39]
On 11 September 2018, Zambada Ortiz was released from prison after fulfilling his time, only eight months after his sentence. He was initially scheduled to be released on 29 May 2019, but was able to get an early release due to good conduct and because of a letter his mother sent to the prosecution asking for a softer sentence. It was unknown if Zambada Ortiz's defense struck a deal with the prosecution in exchange for a reduced term since the indictments of the case are sealed and not available to the public. Since Zambada Ortiz was a U.S. citizen, he was simply escorted to the entrance of the prison and released. It is not known who picked him up at the prison or where he would relocate.[40]
See also
- Mexican Drug War
Footnotes
References
- ^ a b Valdez, Cynthia (23 November 2013). "Detienen a otro hijo de 'El Mayo' Zambada". Milenio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Detienen a otro hijo de 'El Mayo' Zambada". El Diario de Coahuila (in Spanish). 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- U-T San Diego. Archived from the originalon 23 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ Vera, Miguel Ángel (23 November 2013). "La carambola que tundió a los Zambada". Proceso (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ^ "Captura la DEA a hijo de "El Mayo" Zambada". Proceso (in Spanish). 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Los lujos del hijo de un capo, en Twitter". AnimalPolítico (in Spanish). 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Mexican army kills Sinaloa cartel leader". Fox News. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Detienen a otro hijo de 'El Mayo' Zambada". NSS Oaxaca (in Spanish). 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ Cárdenas, José (22 November 2013). "Confirma DEA captura de hijo menor de "El Mayo" Zambada". Radio Fórmula (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "Hijo del 'Mayo' exhibe en Twitter autos, armas doradas, animales, relojes…". Proceso (in Spanish). 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco, tigres y lamborghinis… las fanfarronerías del hijo de Zambada en Facebook". Proceso (in Spanish). 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ a b Cawley, Marguerite (25 November 2013). "Mexico Authorities Track Drug Lords' Families on Social Media". InSight Crime. Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "La vida pública de un Zambada". Reporte Índigo (in Spanish). 25 November 2013. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "Serafín, el angelito de 'El Mayo' Zambada". Milenio (in Spanish). 23 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- Global Post. 22 November 2013. Archived from the originalon 23 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Confirma EUA detención de hijo de "El Mayo" Zambada". TV Azteca (in Spanish). 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Busca fiscal de EU dar a Serafín Zambada condena de al menos 10 años". El Diario de Juárez (in Spanish). Information via El Universal. 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- The Huffington Post. Archivedfrom the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "El Rey Zambada podría ser encarcelado de por vida". Azteca Noticias (in Spanish). Notimex. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ^ "Mexican cartel kingpin's son nabbed on drug charges in Arizona". Reuters. 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ Valdez, Cynthia (26 November 2013). "Detención de Serafín, nuevo golpe de la DEA contra el 'Mayo' Zambada". Milenio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "Cae hijo de 'Mayo' Zambada". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Las entrañas del arresto de Serafín Zambada". Ríodoce (in Spanish). Information provided by Proceso. 23 November 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "Trial for drug kingpin's son moved to California". Arizona Daily Star. 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "Serafín Zambada se declara no culpable". El Informador (in Spanish). 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- U-T San Diego. Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Sánchez, Laura (1 January 2014). "Hijo del Mayo Zambada renuncia a juicio en EU". El Universal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ "Rechaza EU aplazar juicio contra Serafín Zambada". Milenio (in Spanish). 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ "Posponen audiencia de Serafín Zambada". Ríodoce (in Spanish). 16 January 2014. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ García Ramos, Inés (5 February 2014). "Aplazan audiencia de Serafín Zambada". Zeta (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ Sánchez Ley, Laura (24 February 2014). "EU pospone otra vez juicios de hermanos Zambada". El Universal (Mexico City) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- U-T San Diego. Archivedfrom the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Serafín Zambada espera juicio en Los Ángeles". Univision (in Spanish). Notimex. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Posponen audiencia de Serafín Zambada hasta diciembre" (in Spanish). Ríodoce. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 19 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- U-T San Diego. Archivedfrom the original on 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ Stickney, R. (26 September 2014). "Son of Mexican Cartel Leader Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges". NBC 7 San Diego. KNSD. Archived from the original on 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ García Ramos, Inés (10 February 2015). "Hijo de 'El Mayo' Zambada: 'paradero desconocido'" (in Spanish). Zeta. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ Vega, Miguel Ángel (9 February 2015). "Serafín no está en prisión: Acuerda EU con los Zambada" (in Spanish). Ríodoce. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- The San Diego Union Tribune.
- ^ Vega, Miguel Ángel (11 September 2018). "Otra victoria del 'Mayo'; liberan a su hijo Serafín en Estados Unidos". Ríodoce (in Spanish).
External links
- Serafín Zambada Ortiz on Twitter
- Serafín Zambada Ortiz on Facebook
- "Serafín Zambada", by Enigma Norteño — Narcocorrido on YouTube