Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
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Monday, May 8, 2023

First Image of Mayito Gordo After US Prison Release

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat 

Through an anonymous email, I was sent an image which appears to show Mayito Gordo, the son of El Mayo, at SeaWorld in San Diego, California. Clues within the image indicate that the photo was taken within the last few months. 


There have been no new photos of Ismael Zambada Imperial, alias “Mayito Gordo”, published since his release from US prison in July 2022. 



The First Image of a Post-Prison Mayito Gordo


In the emailed photo, a man can be seen walking side-by-side with a woman. They appear to be outdoors in a public space, near a restroom and a bench. 



The email title claimed that the photographed man was Mayito Gordo. Side-by-side comparison of the man with the most recent images of Gordo indicate there is a strong likeness between the two. 



The baseball cap in the new photo even appears similar to one he wore during a meeting with the musical group La Conquista, however the image resolution is too poor, and the design too plain, for any real comparison. 


The image file attached to the email was titled IMG_20230424_203309_777, which would seem to indicate that the photo was taken on April 24, 2023, at 8:09 pm, however, an image can be renamed and furthermore, it has a DPI (dots per inch) of 96, which means its likely not original photo but instead a screenshot, taken on either a smartphone or computer. All other metadata was removed from the image. 



In the background, a white banner attached to a metal pole is visible. The bottom of a round, blue symbol is cut off at the top. 


If you apply certain image editing filters, the text on the banner becomes easier to read and it appears that it reads “MARCH 3 - APRIL 30”. 



A review of festivals taking place in the southern California area show there is only one with the exact starting date of March 3 and ending date of April 30: SeaWorld's Seven Seas Craft Beer & Food Festival



The logo for the Seven Seas festival just so happens to be a symbol that's suspiciously similar in design to the blue circle seen on the banner. 



The festival advertises itself saying it will feature “craft beer from favorite local breweries, plus fresh international cuisine infused with local, sustainable ingredients and unique signature flavors from around the world.” 


The festival is held inside SeaWorld’s theme park’s location at Mission Bay, San Diego, California. A review of their official map indicates at least 11 different restroom locations within the park. 



One of these, the restrooms attached to Nautilus Amphitheater, near Wild Arctic, matches the background of the Mayito Gordo image, as can be seen in these various Google Street View and Google 360: 



April 2021 - Google 360 View Taken by Paul Cline



March 2009 - Google Street View


This match confirms that the image of Mayito was taken in SeaWorld San Diego. The Seven Seas festival takes place at their San Diego location between the months of March and June every year. 



Mayito Gordo has been in prison, either in Mexico or the US, from 2014 up until July 2022. Therefore, the only time when he was out of prison and able to attend the Seven Seas festival was in 2023. That means this photo was taken within the last few months. 





A Review of Mayito Gordo's Legal History


Mayito Gordo was arrested in Sinaloa, Mexico, back in April 2014, and then extradited to the US in December 2019. He and his lawyers negotiated a plea deal and, in April 2021, he officially pled guilty in a San Diego federal court to some of the charges from the US indictment. 


This indictment outlined drug trafficking conspiracy charges, including allegations of Gordo managing the distribution of thousands of pounds of drugs in the US, as well as “directing acts of violence for the purpose of promoting the Sinaloa Cartel’s narcotics trafficking activities.” 



In June 2022, a judge determined that Gordo should be fined $5 million dollars and serve 9 years in prison, with - and this is key - credit for time served, which means he would be released in just one month. 


US authorities told the magazine Zeta Tijuana that Gordo would be deported back to Mexico after his month was up. They gave an expected deportation date of July 27, 2022. 


Through a series of legal filings, Mayito Gordo’s lawyers tried to determine if the Mexican government planned to arrest Gordo once he re-entered Mexico. The Attorney General for Baja California confirmed there were no state level-charges against him but whether there were federal level charges remained unclear. 



On July 21, 2022, Mayito Gordo was released from a US prison and he was immediately transported by US immigration agents to temporary holding locations, first to the San Diego Metropolitan Correctional Center and later to Adelanto Detention Facility. 


On July 26, Vice News reported that Mayito Gordo and his lawyers were trying to negotiate a deal with federal authorities which would allow him to stay in the US. 


Then, July 27 finally arrived. Early in the day, Vice News journalist Keegan Hamilton tweeted out that Gordo’s negotiations had fallen through and that he “was just told his deportation is imminent, he's on his way back to Mexico.” 


So the public waited with baited breath for Gordo to arrive at a US-Mexico border crossing. But he never arrived. 


On August 1, US authorities stated that Mayito Gordo was still in southern California and that his parole officers, along with US Marshals, were aware of his current location. 


This signaled to many that Gordo had, in fact, negotiated a deal which allowed him to stay in the US.


However there was constant media speculation, from publications like La Silla Rota, that lavish Sinaloan parties were actually celebrating Mayito Gordo’s return to Mexico. Many of these videos were later determined to be old footage from a music video shoot. 



Final Thoughts


Mayito Gordo casually enjoying a San Diego theme park alongside a woman is not necessarily surprising, nor does it violate his parole. Nothing about him being there is unusual or unexpected.


So, why is this photo important at all? 


Because getting images of high-level cartel figures, or former cartel figures, is next to impossible these days. Mexican authorities and US authorities have not been releasing images of cartel detainees lately - even after the figures are convicted and it becomes legal to do so.  


Ovidio Guzman was re-arrested last year. His detention was something the Mexican government was proud of, seeing it as an important symbol which showed authorities were willing to take on narcos. However, the government released zero photos of Ovidio. 


The same thing happened with Rafael Caro Quintero. All the images we have of them post-arrest come from government personnel discreetly using their smartphone cameras and leaking them online. 


The US is increasingly taking a similar approach. When El Huevo, the head of the Northeast Cartel, was deported to America, US authorities released zero images of him in their custody.


The same happened when Mario Cárdenas Guillén, from the Gulf Cartel, was extradited to the US. 


Laws barring Mexican journalists from publishing images of cartel figures without obscuring their eyes have only made this problem worse. 


But the ability to recognize a narco is the very least we can ask for from our governments.


It shouldn't be easy for violent cartel figures to slip back into society unnoticed - for them to be afforded the feeling of safety that they've denied to so many Mexican civilians.


That's why images exposing the current faces of cartel figures have, and always will be, vital to true impunity.





Background Sources: SanDiego.org. SeaWorld, Mayito Gordo’s Plea Deal, La Silla Rota, Riodoce, Vice News, Keegan Hamilton


Special thanks to Gary, Red, and Socalj. 








Update 05/09:


Some readers have brought up that the woman in the photo might be Griselda Felix Gastélum, the sister of Sinaloa Cartel - Mayo figure Chavo Felix, who was known to be in a relationship with Mayito Gordo. It was rumored the two were married but the relationship status of high-level cartel figures is rarely verified. 


Below is a comparison of the woman seen at SeaWorld with photos of Griselda. Whether they look similar is up for debate, feel free to share your thoughts.




119 comments:

  1. Foos prolly wearing a bullet proof vest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah look near his waist it definitely looks like he has something under the jacket making him look bulky

      Delete
    2. @7:37 Yeah, it's called being fat.

      Delete
    3. You can also see what look like a gun impression

      Delete
    4. 8:28 it's a roll
      They don't call him mayito gordo for no reason

      Delete
    5. He's a convicted felon, the DOJ would not allow him to carry a weapon. If he carried one on his own, he would risk another sentence which I doubt he would do given the circumstances.

      Delete
    6. They could re arrest foo real quick for that

      Delete
    7. Guys, they screen everybody for weapons when they enter the park.

      https://seaworldentertainment.com/policies/security/

      Delete
    8. Gun or not, it def looks like he is wearing a vest.. probably the finest one..

      Delete
    9. 5:43 yea a lard best for sure, maldito cerdo! 🐖🐖

      Delete
  2. Great guy, potential replacement for amlo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All over CA, Cheyo has been innocent. Catch us in can-am's bubba, El e1 was there lol

      Delete
  3. 👏👏👏👏always impressive Hearst!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. So he's just living in San Diego?!?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, US authorities indicated that he was living in southern Cali back in August 2022.

      https://riodoce.mx/2022/08/09/el-mayito-gordo-se-queda-en-eu/

      Delete
    2. Crazy. Did all that dirt....prison...and now looks like retirement in San Diego. What a trip. Anyone think he's still involved??

      Delete
    3. Nah he’s not involved in anything but going to the atm and getting money out. Stop hating on him. So he sent a few drugs over here. Did he send out death squads to go kill a bunch of people. Drugs will get here regardless. If Mexicans stop sending them Canada will pick up the slack.

      Delete
    4. @7:19 Is it fun swinging from his nuts?

      Delete
    5. 6:42 I must know where… You know, for research purposes.

      Delete
    6. Stays in pico Rivera

      Delete
  5. All hail BB own queen Ms. Hearst.
    Excellent 💯

    ReplyDelete
  6. There's a lot of guys that look like him.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Animo Sicarios!
    There was seven undercover Antrax Special Air Service Operators providing security for El Mayito Gordo in Sea World.
    Some were dressed like tourist with cameras hanging from the neck, but were carrying silenced Walther PK 380. These operators have been trained in VIP security and Krav Maga by an ex colonel of the Mossad .There was even a bodyguard (ex Navy Seal Frogman ) inside one of the shark tanks ready to respond.

    Pura Sombreriza y arriba the 5th Month aka the Lord of the Hat.
    Atte: Sicario 006

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. El alucin de los alucines. How miserable is your life bro seriously 😂😂

      Delete
    2. I actually find 006 comments one of the best on bb..

      Delete
    3. Jesus christ 006 godamm u be high of some good shit 🤦🏾‍♂️

      Delete
    4. @ 8:04 El Senor Sic#006 banging yo wife and yo mama yet you out here hating on him.

      Delete
    5. @@ 2:57 I am banging @8:04s mama ,so is the rest of the Tier 1 Gente Nueva Special Forces even los halcones giving @8:04 mother some d...

      Delete
    6. Excellent idea a shark tank that should speed up his ETA time and will also blend in extremely well, considering the circumstances and Navy SEALs would kick your ass, if you called one of them a frog man that was pre-creation of the Navy Seals your information is incorrect.

      The UDTs, or “frogmen” were revived during the Korean War and took part in raids along the coast of Korea. These UDTs were instrumental in sabotaging railroad tunnels and bridges and also several large-scale military/de-mining operations during the Korean conflict.

      A few years later, under the order of President John F. Kennedy, the US military formed SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) teams ONE and TWO to advise and instruct soldiers during the conflict in Vietnam. From their outset, SEAL teams were tasked with secretive aquatic operations in rivers, lakes and oceans.

      Delete
  8. Shamu snitched?..
    Jump on I-5 SeaWorld exit, head south maybe 5 or 6 miles, that's your Barrio Logan exit at the foot of the Coronado bridge..!
    🦎

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just because he was maybe spotted in SD doesn't mean he's calling it home. If true, he's living right under logan aka afo noses.

      Delete
    2. That's correct. All we know is sources in the US Marshals said he was living in "southern California" in August 2022.

      If his parole officer approves, he could move. Furthermore, Southern California is a big place that encompasses more than just San Diego.

      Delete
    3. I wouldn’t doubt that’s he’s living in San Diego… safest big city closest to the border…

      Delete
  9. El e 1 was there with Mayito Gordo that day

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need to stfu alucin el e1 was totally not there

      Delete
    2. Hi, no not there I like phoenix AZ.

      Delete
    3. He was there like it or not

      Delete
    4. 7:52 el E1 was washing my car that day, like it or not

      Delete
  10. I could tun into him in San Diego, that kind of thing happens to me.

    Wouldn't be at Sea World,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe City Heights.. maybe Golden Hill.. Who knows 🤔

      Delete
    2. ey you know San Diego. Golden Hill is my spot!

      Delete
    3. golden hill very groovy, named that because of the way the sun set's reflection on its sloping hill..
      25th & Market good mex food, the boyz on the corner be slingin' whatever they sling these days..
      Try Los Cuatro Milpas on Logan Ave, cuisine authentic like a mofo, palabra..
      🦎

      Delete
    4. You are all tripping… He very likely has a baller ass home on Harbor Island….

      Delete
    5. I thought harbor island didn't have homes, not residential, just the Sheraton and a park..
      🦎

      Delete
  11. Looks like someone took this clandestinely too

    and he realizes it, but isn't worried to me

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pinches sinolenses si son dedos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Y no hay justicia en Estados Unidos. Todos salen

      Delete
  13. All the ladies from Sinaloa are beautiful and sexy! These capos from La Chapiza and La Mayiza got the most attractive women.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jalisco females all day naturally beautiful and sexy no plastic

      Delete
    2. You think that girl is sexy. That's her Sunday best she has on and still 5 and a half 6 if I'm buzzing hard.. I've had and have better and I'm not hating just the truth. Oh and I'm just a regular Joe 5 to 9 and live paycheck to paycheck.

      Delete
    3. 8:18 en todas partes de México hay mujeres carroceadas y tuneada.

      Delete
    4. The only women who really win beauty pageants in Mexico are sinaloan and Jalisco women nothing but facts

      Delete
  14. He gets outa the can only to visit SeaWorld, where all the animals are locked up.. ironic..
    Late April in dago really ain't jacket weather, although early in the morning close to the coast brings "may grey", or "june gloom", a thick, sometimes chilly marine layer that takes the sun awhile to burn off..
    Maybe some genius type who knows shadows can pinpoint if fotos were taken in the early A.M.
    🦎

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Southern California has been unseasonably cold the last few months.

      Delete
    2. You obviously don’t live here or know anyone who does then if you don’t think it’s been jacket weather still.

      Delete
    3. 3:38
      Ocean Beach local since '73, retired in Guerrero last few years, everyone bitching about how cold it's been up there, but I thought they were exaggerating..
      Thanks for setting me straight!
      🦎

      Delete
    4. To be fair, this just means the woman with him was really cold in that sheer top. Either way, somebody was dressed odd for the temperature.

      Delete
    5. @HEARST — especially considering getting splashed! Lol

      Delete
  15. Ta bien caro ese parque y la 🍺 ni se diga . Antes me gustaba ir a ver los partidos de los padres cuando eran bien maletas y regalaban boletos para ir a verlos.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Clearly looks like a bullet proof vest & handgun on his left side

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ay vienen las niñas a rogar que los sinaloenses son snitches

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 9:10 Rogar? Mas bien afirmar que efectivamente son dedos🐭

      Delete
    2. Es cierto si son

      Delete
    3. They dont call sinaloa Snitchland for no reason

      Delete
    4. Exactamente mi punto como les encantan los sinaloenses Nomas affirmativo que la raza se la dan que no son dedos

      Delete
    5. 8:43 exactamente, esos sinaloas les encanta poner dedo, desde que nacen asta que se mueren, lla lo traen en los genes, yo creo es la comida que comen toda intoxicada de lo que sobra de las drogas que manufacturan y hechan al agua

      Delete
  18. Let the man be fck it he did what he did no one's business

    ReplyDelete
  19. Not going to be a hater. Dude really looks good compared to some I’ve seen how badly they come out of jail.

    ReplyDelete
  20. So cool article

    ReplyDelete
  21. Not going to lie, I’ve I see him one day I’ll probably ask him for a picture. I’m not a D rider or anything but just seems interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I find it hard to believe he would not want to visit his parents including Mayo. At the end of the day that’s his father no matter what they do for a leaving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 933 Millions of immigrantd in US are in the same boat... Does not surprise me.

      Delete
  23. These guys work for the government of the US and it shows.
    Even his other snitch brother told the court of Chicago that the US government gave them (cdsnitches) the green light to deal drugs to the states.
    The only thing they had to do was give information of other drug pushers
    And people wonder why the streets are flooded with Coke, meth and pills
    Thank your government hahaha

    ReplyDelete
  24. Living proof that it pays to cooperate with Uncle Sam.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Incheee cerdo puerco que asco 🤢🤮

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Recomiéndalo a un doctor de medicina bariátrica.

      Delete
  26. Im always super suss on people who goto prison but come out way before they are due. If I know someone has got a prison sentence but then I see them walking the streets a few months later. I’ll steer clear of them for the rest of my days. I’ll have nothing to do with them. There’s a reason some get out way before due. Snitches.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People don’t serve their full sentences. If you get sentenced to 20 years it means you’re only realistically gonna serve like 12.

      Delete
    2. It actually depends on the crime you commit and state or federal system you get convicted in.

      Delete
    3. Paranoid, hostile, ghetto mentality

      Delete
    4. 3:45
      Not when you do federal time. You're thinking state time.

      Delete
  27. Why do Sinaloans snitch sooo much?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. is in their DNA, they have to snitch

      Delete
  28. Nice job finding where the pic was. Excellent article Hearst.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Is he the Fredo of the 3 Brothers…?
    Looks week.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks Hearst. Usa should of got Hearst on hunt for Bin laden would of found him faster 👍

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I regret to inform you, but Bin Laden was killed by Seal Team 6, a long time ago.

      Delete
  31. Def got vest on under jacket can see it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is just fat, fat boys look like they are stilling thing when they are at the store

      Delete
  32. San Diego is a great place to live if you can pay to live there. Great weather year round, lots of things to do outdoors, good food (including Mexican), amazing views, clean streets. Mayito Gordo is lucky…

    ReplyDelete
  33. My congratulations Hearst!!!! Incredible information, incredible image and incredible use of open sources. Me descubro ante semejante trabajo.
    This is the way

    ReplyDelete
  34. That’s Chavo felix sister
    Griselda Felix Gastélum

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She looks like one of the girls from White Chicks

      Delete
    2. 9:25
      beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone!
      A dead ringer for Jimmy Hoffa..
      His Witness Protection handlers told him he would blend in better if he snagged a plain jane pareja for arm candy..
      In her defense, she is not a plastic princesa, she accepts and likes herself as God made her, they are happy together, it seems, and if her hand gesture indicates she might be a bit bossy, that's cool too, the dynamics of relationships never cease to fascinate..
      🦎

      Delete
    3. Are you guys sure?
      I know Mayito had a relationship with Griselda Felix.

      But I think that woman with him doesn't look like Griselda. Unless she got a lot of lip filler?

      https://i.imgur.com/GENCBBH.png

      Delete
    4. I think it could be her just a bad angle the photo was snapped at if anymore turn up I'm sure we could rule her in or out defiantly.

      Delete
    5. Some of the other BB writers agree with you and think that it is Griselda. The more I look at it, the more that I see that it could be her.

      It's an open to question, for sure.

      Delete
    6. I'll opine and say it's her, she just aged and added some lbs...

      Delete
    7. Most of those pics of Griselda are over a decade old. Not to mention the make up and actually posing for the picture. Definitely Gris Felix with him at SeaWorld. Probably the bridge of communication between MG and his father’s faction while he’s in witness protection

      Delete
  35. Mayo is King Rat! Watch out Chapitos! Senior, Ovido sunk and the rest are next!

    ReplyDelete
  36. This is such a cool article Hearst. Awesome sleuthing. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Glad a real one got out. That's so funny to see killers amd drugs dealers at sea world living the dream having fun. Makes me wanna strive to do better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know much about Mayito, was he a killer? did he work with Antrax? I assumed he and his other brothers just lived off their fathers money.

      Delete
    2. 11:41 have you ever heard of a drug lord who has not killed a person in all of his carrier? Its like having a pro gol keeper in soccer playing at the highest level who has never saved a goal! You get it now? Even the nicest most respectfull drug lord have to at some point cappe a dude, other wise in the deug world everyone will take advantage of your ass

      Delete
  38. Witness protection failed big time. And I don’t think that wearing the same hat alongside a buchona is the smartest way to keep a low profile. But then again, most of these narco juniors don’t care because they’ve never been in trouble before.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Chino was living somewhere here too, in some suburb or out of the way house. Assuming he even went to work at some nondescript job for at least a month or two. That must have killed him, coming home from a day job.

    The reason is all these cases got filed in Southern District of California, because obviously, Tijuana was and is a major, and most crucial crossing, mostly to the Zambada faction in that era, 2012-2015.

    In the Los Antrax and Mayito time, it was Los Antrax/Mayitos to Atlante to Los Aquiles and La Rana's guys in Tijuana, and distributors in the US

    now it's Zambadas to Aquiles, and probably a half dozen other Sinaloa hiters in TJ, probably with Cheyo or Chavo coordinating and Chapitos and their fentanyl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don’t forget about el E1 from so cal and now runs the pipeline to to PHX
      Arriba gente de EL E1

      Delete
    2. J - You would think the US government would send Chino somewhere else instead of SD right? Pretty sure some people in SD would have eventually found out about him if he had stayed.

      Delete
    3. Since his case was in Southern District of California, think he had to be here. He seemed to live for months with no issues but there is some question where he was and what he was doing
      Maybe was like a private halfway house or his family paid the rent for a place

      He was wearing an ankle bracelet too so he was completing his supervised release

      Delete
  40. He lives in pico rivera never left

    ReplyDelete
  41. He staying in north county sd seen his girlfriend before picking up stuff at a target pick up parking lot Really nice area too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. North county sd like escondido/fallbrook/ valley center? Or more like San clemente/Oceanside/Encinitas/delmar area?

      Delete
    2. He was apparently seen in the “ old town” San Diego shopping in the smoke shop

      Delete
  42. Su papá no es MZambada , es el actor Agustín Bernal su verdadero papa lol lol

    ReplyDelete
  43. Picture dedicated to Los Chapitos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, if you send me unseen pictures of Chapitos, I'll publish those too.

      If you send me unseen pictures of Mencho, same deal.

      All of them deal in civilian cruelty. All of their faces should be out there.

      Delete
  44. Interesting. El Flaco and top people for Ismael are incognito as we speak.

    ReplyDelete

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