Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon Drug Cartel - Research Paper Example

? Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon Drug Cartel 21st April Salvador commonly known as “Sal” Magluta and Augusto “Willy Falcon acquired one of the most popular and prominent drug trafficking business in South Florida’s history. After a long time of operation in the drug business, the federal government tried to arrest them but in vain. Drug trafficking in South Florida is a criminal offence whereby those caught associated with it are likely to be convicted by law and may end up being jailed for many years. This is explains why federal government of South Florida was searching for Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon who had formed a drug cartel in South Florida. Upon arrest the two were charged by a federal grand jury in April 1991 for excessive involvement in drug trafficking offenses, as well as their continuity in operating such illegal business. Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon Drug Cartel Since 1978, Sal Magluta and Will Falcon ran drug smuggling organization, and both were born in Cuba and attended Miami High School, but later dropped out before accomplishing their studies. They were arrested in 1991 after a long search by the federal government for their importation of seventy five tons of cocaine into the United States, which earned them a profit of about $2 billion (THE NATION, 2004). However, after Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon were charged for their involvement in drug trafficking in April 1991 and their continuing running of the criminal business in South Florida, the community was elated by the arrest. However, the two had prominent lawyers who defended them in court. This essay will explore about Sal Magluta and Will Falcon involvement in drug curtailing, the drugs they dealt with, and the efforts made by law enforcement to deal with them. On April 1991, Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon were charged by a federal grand jury for excessive involvement in drug trafficking offenses, and their continuity in running such an illegal business in the country. They were indicted of importing and dispensing of more than 75 tons of cocaine, which is equivalent to 68,181kilograms. However, after an extensive trial was carried out before Judge Federico Moreno, Magluta and Falcon were found to be innocent from the accusations of being drug traffickers and their engagement in the illegal business. Thus, with their ill earned high profits from their drug smuggling business, Falcon and Magluta bought cattle ranches, luxurious cars, and cigarette racing boats as well as mansion houses, and they took classy champagne and went to luxurious restaurants. Unfortunately, once they were arrested, awaiting their case in court, the two were under tight security that restrained them from carrying on with their illegal business. Unfortunately, almost immediately after they were found innocent and released, the United States Attorney’s office ordered an investigation concerning the two convict’s finances. In due course, the investigations revealed that member of their jury together with the jury’s supervisor had been bribed in favor of Magluta and Falcon. Later, several judges, Magluta, Falcon, their acquaintances, and some of their lawyers were accused of different criminal offenses that arose from the investigation. Nevertheless, since Falcon and Magluta were arrested in 1991, several unexplainable occurrences have taken place, for example, about three potential trial witnesses were assassinated while other two seriously wounded on attempts of being assassinated. These cases were filled and charged against them, but Falcon and Magluta denied that they had nothing to do with the killings, and, since then nobody has been charged concerning the killings. However, these incidences were the reasons why Falcon and Maagluta were under maximum security awaiting their trials (Lexis-Nexis et al, 2000). In October 1991, the day when Falcon and Magluta’s case was to be heard, they were sure that they could not be arrested and imprisoned due to charges bestowed upon them; regrettably, this was not the case as it had been previously. Sal Mugluta was raided with U.S Marshal Service at his home in Miami and later the same team stormed Willy Falcon at his Fort Lauderdale mansion. In their residences, about $1 million in cash, jewelry, gold and petite amount of gold were established (Press, 1995). In addition, they confiscated ledgers among other papers that according to the prosecutors signified that both Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon went on with their business to the last day they were arrested and taken to custody. As much as they were involved in drug trafficking, they were often seen in the public carrying out their business as usual. Their capacity to maneuver openly with no local police or federal agent taking action saw themselves untouchable, "They were like gods in the doper community; this is according to Sean Convoy a supervisor for the U.S. Marshals Service in Miami (DeFede, 1992). In addition, one of the men who raided Falcon and Magluta houses said that at the time of their arrest, the two men did not resist although they were shocked of the incident. Magluta was caught trembling in the cold as he tried to conceal in the bushes in his courtyard; on the other hand, Falcon lacked words to resist his arrest. In as much as a criminal can hide, they cannot hide and be separated from their family, the convicted were caught after a thorough investigation of their family. For example, Falcon was reached through his six-year-old son- Willy Jr. who stayed with his father’s parents. Apart from their arrest in 1991, Magluta and Falcon were caught in several cases that never landed them in prison. For example, after running away from prison in 1988 after being convicted as a drug dealer, Magluta accidently met a number of detectives at a local office-supply store. The police officers recognized him and they managed to take him back to prison, however, after some few days, he was released as records indicated that he has finished his jail term. Additionally, Falcon who had been caught and arrested in more than three instances after being found with drug and illegal firearms never finished even a week in jail, and this meant their conviction and arrest of 1991 could hardly make them free, as the charges were heavy (DeFede, 1992). However, in the 1991 case of Falcon and Magluta had a large team of professional lawyers to defend them, since Magluta‘s lawyer was Roy Black and Falcon’s lawyer was Albert Krieger among others. The case was held in October 1991 and after several hearings and investigations, the Magluta and Falcon were found guilty as much as their defending team believed that they could emerge winners as they had previously done. Following these accusations as drug cartel, Magluta was facing a sentence of upto 205 years imprisonment in the federal prison whereas Falcon was sentenced only for 20 years after appealing and striking a deal with the government (Florida drug kingpin gets 20-year prison term, 2003). Originally, Magluta was moved to the supermax central prison facility in Florence, Colorado, later, in 2010, he was moved to ADX Florence after his lawyer, Paul Petruzzi, litigated the federal Government. After Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon were imprisoned, Federal agents who took part in charging them said that despite the fact that the main culprits of drug trafficking had been arrested and imprisoned, there existed few drug traffickers in history who were more victorious and well-known as compared to Magluta and Falcon. Therefore, in order to clear drug cartel completely, further investigations were to be carried to ensure that their associates and other drug smugglers will be arrested and charged with the same criminal offences. As investigations are underway, Magluta is presently in prison and is will be facing a new trial based on over 40 lawful infringements; additionally, when Falcon and Magluta were caught in their houses, one of the law enforcement officials who explored their houses said the convicts had about fifteen cellular phones, fax machines, scrambling devices and beepers. In conclusion, the imprisonment of Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon was very important in the fight against drug traffickers in the US. This is because although there still are other drug traffickers these were among the untouchables who were the key players in this illegal business. However, their arrest serves as a lesson to the others that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them in its fight against the illegal business of drug smuggling. References DeFede, J. (1992 February 12). Falcon and Magluta. Miami NewTimes News. Retrieved from http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1992-02-12/news/falcon-and-magluta/ Florida drug kingpin gets 20-year prison term. (2003, Jul 23). Deseret News. Lexis-Nexis, M., Bender, M. and Michie. (2000). ABA Journal. Journal ESQ Vol.86 18-19 Press, A. (1995, Oct 23). Trial recalls miami. Las Vegas Review - Journal. THE NATION; IN BRIEF / FLORIDA; 2 jurors sentenced over bribes in cocaine trial. (2004, Jan 15). Los Angeles Times. Read More