U.S. prosecutors said Wednesday they’re discussing a potential plea deal with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the long-elusive Mexican drug lord arrested last summer.

The alleged cofounder of the Sinaloa Cartel, in U.S. custody since his arrival in July, could strike a deal to avoid the death penalty.

The Mexican drug lord who founded the Sinaloa cartel with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is in plea talks with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York, to resolve his case before a trial that could yield the death penalty,

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada decided to stick with the lawyer defending him from U.S. drug trafficking charges despite a possible conflict of interest.