(NewsNation) — The former head of the Sinaloa drug cartel pleaded guilty to federal charges when he appearted in court on Monday after previously maintaining his innocence.

Ismael Zambada, known as “El Mayo”, was arrested in Texas last month and federal prosecutors said in a court filing ahead of Monday’s hearing in a Brooklyn federal courtroom that they expected the 77-year-old to plead guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of continuing a criminal enterprise.

Federal prosecutors announced earlier this month that they would not seek the death penalty in the case. Zambada entered the guilty plea during the hearing before the federal judge.

"I recognize the great harm illegal drugs have done to the people in the United States and Mexico," Zambada said during his co

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