Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, alleged Mexican drug kingpin, to appear in US court

FILE PHOTO: A newspaper seller arranges newspapers reporting the El Paso, Texas, U.S., arrest of Mexican drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, "El Chapo" Guzman's son, in Mexico City, Mexico July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Gustavo Graf/File Photo

EL PASO, Texas (Reuters) - Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the notorious alleged co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, is expected to appear in a U.S. court on Thursday after pleading not guilty last week to drug trafficking charges following his dramatic arrest.

Zambada is due to appear for a status conference before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone in El Paso, Texas, federal court at 1 p.m. MDT (1900 GMT). Such hearings normally deal with legal matters such as the disclosure of evidence by prosecutors to the defense and preliminary scheduling.