Mexican cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in plea talks with U.S., sticks with lawyer who represented son

U.S. prosecutors said Wednesday that they're discussing a potential plea deal with Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the long-elusive Mexican drug lord who was arrested last summer and whose son could testify against him if he goes to trial.

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. A judge scheduled an April 22 hearing for an update.

Zambada's lead attorney, Frank Perez, declined to comment on the discussions.