Zambada had eluded U.S. authorities for years. He was believed to be more involved in daily operations of the cartel than his better-known and flashier boss, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán ...

Assistant U.S. attorney Francisco Navarro said the plea discussions with Zambada, a leader of Mexico's powerful Sinaloa cartel, haven't borne fruit so far, but prosecutors want to keep trying.