MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Accused Mexican drug kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada is willing to take a plea deal if it means prosecutors do not seek the death penalty, his lawyer told Reuters on Monday.
This would mean a change in Zambada’s position after the 76 year-old pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges back in September in a New York courthouse.
“Mr. Zambada does not want to go to trial and is willing to accept responsibility for a charge that does not include the death penalty,” lawyer Frank Perez said.
“El Mayo” faces 17 felony counts, which include drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons charges, and has being jailed pending trial.
(Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Kylie Madry)
