Kidnapping of El Chapo's cartel partner hangs over U.S. indictment of Mexican governor
Key takeaways
- The indictment is remarkable in its detail, laying out a web of corruption at the highest levels of the Mexican government.
- At the center, according to the U.S.
- While prosecutors in the Southern District of New York described damning evidence, the indictment was equally notable for all that was not mentioned.
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Sept. 13, 2024. His alleged ties to the recently indicted governor of Sinaloa are under scrutiny. (Elizabeth Williams / Associated Press) By Keegan Hamilton Senior Editor, Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Follow May 10, 2026 3 AM PT 9 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
The indictment is remarkable in its detail, laying out a web of corruption at the highest levels of the Mexican government.
At the center, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, is Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya, accused of allowing his state’s eponymous cartel to operate with impunity after its leaders guaranteed his election by sending gunmen to intimidate rival candidates, steal ballots and threaten voters at the polls.