Willy Falcon
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Willy Falcon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Augusto Guillermo Falcón September 1, 1955 |
| Nationality | Cuban |
| Known for | Cuban drug kingpin who ran South Florida from 1970s to 1990s. |
| Criminal status | Released |
| Conviction(s) | Illegal possession of a firearm (1997) Money laundering (2003) |
| Criminal penalty | 14 years imprisonment |
| Partner(s) | Sal Magluta |
Augusto Guillermo "Willy" Falcon (born September 1, 1955) is a former drug kingpin who, along with his partner Sal Magluta, operated one of the most significant cocaine trafficking organizations in South Florida history.
Biography[edit]
Speedboat racing[edit]
Falcon was a speedboat racing champion in the 1980s.[1]
1996 trial[edit]
Magluta, along with his partner, Falcon was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 1991 for a plethora of drug trafficking crimes, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise accused of importing and distributing over 75 tons of cocaine.[2][3] Falcon was represented by Albert Krieger, Susan Van Dusen, and D. Robert "Bobby" Wells.[4] His partner Magluta was represented by Roy Black, Martin Weinberg, and Richard Martinez (Magluta's brother in law).[2] Both Magluta and Falcon were found not guilty after a lengthy trial before Judge Federico Moreno.
Gun conviction[edit]
In 1997 he was convicted for illegal possession of a firearm.[5]
Juror bribery[edit]
Following the 1996 trial, the United States Attorney's Office directed an investigation into Magluta and Falcon's finances that ultimately revealed that members of their jury - including the jury foreman - had been bribed. Magluta, Falcon, several of the jurors, their associates and even some of their lawyers were ultimately charged with various criminal offenses arising from the conduct.[6][7]
Guilty plea and deportation[edit]
In 2003 he pled guilty to a single count of money laundering in a plea deal with the government for a reduced 20-year sentence.[8] After his 2017 release he was transferred to ICE custody.[9] He was deported to the Dominican Republic, where he stayed for a short period of time, as the Dominican Republic authorities did not want his residence in the country. He was forced to flee the country and his whereabouts are currently unknown.[10]
In popular culture[edit]
Falcon and his partner Magluta are the subjects of the 2021 documentary Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami.[11]
Rick Ross's single, Little Havana, released December 2, 2021, opens with an audio clip of Falcon.[12] In the clip, a character playing Falcon claims to have helped build Miami into the city it is today and expresses appreciation to Rick Ross for “keeping my name alive in your music”.
References[edit]
- ^ "Willy & Sal, Episode 1: The Rise of Cocaine Cowboys Willy Falcon and Sal Magluta".
- ^ a b Dante Parra Herrera, Jose (August 21, 1999). "U.S. INDICTS 12 IN DRUG CASE". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ Strouse, Charles (February 14, 1996). "PROSECUTORS SAY MEN WERE KINGPINS; DEFENSE CLAIMS FRAME-UP". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ DeFede, Jim (14 December 1995). "The Best Defense Money Can Buy". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- ^ Glover, Scott (March 27, 1997). "GUN CONVICTION NAILS COKE CASE FIGURE". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ Holland, John (March 4, 2000). "BRIBED FOREMAN GETS 17 YEARS". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ W. O'Neill, Ann (January 15, 2004). "BRIBED JURORS GET 5 YEARS IN PRISON". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ O'Neill, Ann W. (June 17, 2003). "DRUG KINGPIN PLEADS GUILTY". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ "'Cocaine Cowboy' Augusto Falcon in ICE Custody After Release From Prison". NBC 6. June 19, 2017.
- ^ "Cocaine Cowboy Willie Falcon deported to Dominican Republic". Miami Herald. November 20, 2018.
- ^ Desta, Yohana (August 6, 2021). "Cocaine Cowboys: Inside the Wild Netflix Docuseries about Miami's Drug Trade". Vanity Fair.
- ^ Marie, Erika (December 3, 2021). "Rick Ross Delivers "Little Havana" Ft. Willie Falcon & The-Dream". Hot New Hip Hop.
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