Zambada's lawyer Frank Perez has also represented his son, Vicente Zambada Niebla, who prosecutors say could testify against him at trial. Zambada Niebla previously testified against Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who founded the notorious Sinaloa Cartel alongside Zambada.

U.S. prosecutors said Wednesday they’re discussing a potential plea deal with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the long-elusive Mexican drug lord arrested last summer.

The Mexican drug lord who founded the Sinaloa cartel with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is in plea talks with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York, to resolve his case before a trial that could yield the death penalty,

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada decided to stick with the lawyer defending him from U.S. drug trafficking charges despite a possible conflict of interest.