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Release [print-friendly version] Mexican Mayor Charged with Trafficking Multi-Kilogram Quantities of Cocaine Arrives in New York APR 2 -- (Manhattan, NY) JOHN P. GILBRIDE, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") and MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced that RUBEN GIL, a/k/a "Gavilan," a/k/a "Padrino," arrived in New York yesterday evening to face charges of trafficking multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine within the United States. GIL, who was elected mayor of Izúcar de Matamoros in the state of Puebla, Mexico in November 2007, was arrested in California on March 23, 2008. "This arrest exemplifies the commitment of global law enforcement to identify and arrest those individuals responsible for trafficking cocaine into New York," said DEA Special Agent in Charge JOHN P. GILBRIDE. "With international law enforcement's united front we will protect our nation from the perils of narcotics by continuing to investigate drug trafficking organizations operating across the globe." According to the Indictment filed in December 2007 in Manhattan federal court and statements made during a bail hearing in Los Angeles federal court: From 2005 through at least November 2007, GIL, 41, along with co-defendant MARTIN NELSON GARCIA, participated in a far-reaching narcotics trafficking conspiracy, in which they arranged for the transportation and delivery of cocaine to co-conspirators in the New York metropolitan area. In November 2007, GIL arranged for the delivery of approximately 11 kilograms of cocaine to the New York metropolitan area. This followed a 22 kilogram cocaine delivery to the New York metropolitan area, which GIL's partner and co-defendant GARCIA, arranged in June 2006. In addition, as detailed during a bail hearing in Los Angeles federal court, GIL has been responsible for the trafficking and delivery of additional large shipments of cocaine over the course of several years. GIL often transported cocaine inside tractor-trailer trucks used by a national moving company controlled by GIL. In March 2004, the DEA seized approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine that had been transported by a truck bearing the name "Gil Moving & Storage," which was being driven by GIL's brother, EDUARDO GIL. GIL is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, GIL faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. GIL is scheduled to appear before United States District Judge JOHN E. SPRIZZO on April 3, 2008. Mr. GARCIA praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA's New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, and New York State Police, as well as the assistance provided by the Orange County Regional Narcotics Suppression Program, the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, the Rockland County Narcotics Task Force, and the DEA's Mexico City Country Office. Mr. GARCIA also thanked the United States Customs Border Protection and the United States Marshals Service for its work in effecting GIL's arrest and transfer to the Southern District of New York. Additionally, Mr. GARCIA expressed his gratitude to Mexican law enforcement authorities for their coordination in the investigation. "The arrest of RUBEN GIL, charged with transporting significant quantities of cocaine within the United States, is the result of extraordinary cooperation of international law enforcement partners, and our commitment to investigate and prosecute narcotics traffickers," said United States Attorney MICHAEL J. GARCIA. Assistant United States Attorneys AVI WEITZMAN, PARVIN MOYNE, and ANNA ARREOLA are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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