Mayito Gordo is Staying in the United States after Prison Release

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Ismael Zambada Imperial is currently residing in California after being released from US prison, according to US enforcement sources.

Ismael Zambada Imperial, "Mayito Gordo" who was formally released from a US prison on July 21, ultimately did not assert his right to be repatriated to Mexico and instead agreed to stay in California where he remains on parole, and subject to the instructions of the parole authorities of that state for 3 years.

According to US Marshals sources, Zambada Imperial is at an address in Southern California that only officials from the California probation office, the US Marshals, some members of his family, and the lawyers who represent him know. It was not clear if at some point Zambada Imperial would change his mind and assert his right as a Mexican and be repatriated to Mexico, or if he would serve his three-year probation sentence in the United States.

Las Parrandas del Gordo Corrido Video

The video on social media rumored to be Mayito Gordo's homecoming party to Sinaloa, Mexico, was from a music video shoot.

His release in the United States unleashed a series of rumors about the whereabouts of Zambada Imperial, including several videos of alleged parties that celebrated the return of the son of Ismael el Mayo Zambada to Mexico. However, that video was actually part of a music video shoot for the narco-corrido artists Enigma Norteño and El Fantasma as seen on their Instagram and TikTok accounts. 

The corrido Enigma Norteño composed that day is titled "Las Parrandas del Gordo" and is a tribute to Mayito Gordo's release but not a performance at a coming home party in Mexico. Based on social media posts of the shoot, vehicles with California license plates can be seen and the band was touring between California and Arizona at the time.

Amparo in Mexico

On Monday, August 1, the eldest son of "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel, promoted an Amparo so as not to be arrested if he entered Mexican territory. The trial of guarantees was presented in a court of Amparo District of Tijuana, Baja California, and was registered under number 526/2022. A 24-hour ultimatum to locate the former member of the Sinaloa Cartel was ordered. Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Office ( FGR ) has not confirmed the location of Ismael Zambada, however, information from the US authorities confirms that he is free and in the United States.

The brief established as responsible authorities the Attorney General of the Republic based in Mexico City, against any act of annoyance or attacks on personal freedom, incommunicado, subpoena, appearance, torture, ill-treatment and inhuman or to know if there is some investigation folder against him.

It was this Monday when the agreement resulting from that protection was announced, in which it was announced that so far the authorities indicated in the trial have not notified if there is any arrest warrant against the son of Ismael "El Mayo."

For this reason, the Amparo judge gave a period of 48 hours for the Attorney General's Office to report if Ismael Zambada Imperial has pending accounts with the Mexican justice system.
All of the above would have been useless because, although the FGR has not confirmed Zambada Imperial's whereabouts, the announcement by the US authorities makes it unnecessary since it confirms that Mayito Gordo is still in the United States, free, but on parole. The fact that Zambada Imperial remains in the United States, according to documents from a Southern California District court, means that he will have to abide by certain guidelines by the State Parole Office for the next three years.

According to document 69, of file 14-cr-00658, Zambada Imperial must appear periodically at the probation offices of the judicial district of Southern California, but must also abide by the laws of that country and refrain from having in his possession any type of drugs, not even for personal use, as well as not carrying any type of weapon, and taking at least two blood tests during the time he is on probation to prove that, in fact, he is not using any type of illegal drug.

Remaining in the United States also forces Mayito Gordo to live near the federal area assigned to him, and he must always tell the truth to his parole agent, otherwise, his parole can be revoked and he could return to prison.

Another of the requirements of parole is that the accused must work at least 30 hours a week in a job that will also be supervised by the Parole Department, although perhaps the requirement that could be most difficult for Zambada Imperial is that he will not be able to communicate with his father, El Mayo, or with his brothers, relatives, acquaintances, or people who are linked to the Sinaloa Cartel or in other types of illegal activities.

Source Riodoce, La Silla Rota