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It doesn't work that way in federal court. No pre plea promises are made. Sentencing guidelines are calculated, which judges usually comply with, based on a whole bunch of stuff. I'm sure it's life in prison, unless there is some sort of cooperation agreement, which I doubt.
What’s the incentive to plead guilty then?
It seems fairly plausible that he could have gotten some sympathetic jurors.
One of the guideline categories is called "acceptance of responsibility." He gets full credit for pleading before trial. He probably hopes to either get anything less than life, or maybe a better prison designation from the judge. I think the threat of the death penalty was hanging over his head. I don't think that is realistic in a New York court , state or federal, anyway.
What did he get for pleading guilty?