In Spanish, there is a saying, "Dios los cría y ellos se juntan,"which translates to "God raises them, and they get together." This can apply fittingly to what is happening in the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, with Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, Néstor Pérez "El Nini," and Genaro García Luna.
Zambada was the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel with Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. El Nini is identified as El Chapo's strongman and top security man, while García Luna is a former Mexican national Security Secretary being judged for his links to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The Brooklyn federal jail has been El Mayo's new home since he appeared in front of a judge in a New York City court and pleaded not guilty to 17 charges in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
The Man Behind the Charges
El Mayo Zambada has long been a central figure in Mexico's drug trade, co-founding the Sinaloa Cartel alongside Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán. He evaded law enforcement for years, allegedly orchestrating the cartel's vast drug trafficking network that spanned continents. Zambada's capture and extradition to the U.S. in recent months marked a significant blow to the cartel, though his influence and network remain a concern for authorities.
Zambada's current status is now in the hands of the U.S. justice system. According to the BOP's records, his release date is listed as "unknown," which underscores the complexities of his legal situation and the likelihood of a lengthy trial. Given the nature and number of charges against him, it is plausible that Zambada could face life in prison if found guilty of even a fraction of the accusations.
What we do know is that his registry number is 27102-51 and that he is in Brooklyn.
MDC Brooklyn: The New Holding Facility for 'El Mayo'
Authorities refer to MDC Brooklyn, as an "administrative security metropolitan detention center" on 29th Street in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood. With an estimated population of 1,372 inmates of varying security levels, the facility serves as a critical holding site for individuals awaiting trial in the Eastern District of New York. Zambada's placement here reflects the high-stakes nature of his case and the need for a secure facility equipped to manage high-profile inmates.
However, MDC Brooklyn has had its share of controversy. Former director Cameron Lindsey referred to it as "one of the most problematic, if not the most problematic, of the Bureau of Prisons facilities." Issues ranging from overcrowding to alleged human rights violations have put the facility in the public eye. Despite these concerns, it remains one of the go-to locations for housing high-risk and high-profile detainees like Zambada, El Nini, and García Luna
Other infamous people who have been detained there are FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried; Vincent Basciano, part of the mafia Bonnano Family; Al Qaeda operative Abid Naseer; and former Donald Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen.
However, El Chapo Guzmán, who was also judged in Brooklyn, didn't grace the walls of the MDC Brooklyn. After this successful escape from two Mexican jails, the U.S. government held him in another New York facility, considered more secure than the detention center in Guantanamo, Cuba,
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