United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOWLING GREEN, KY - Two Mexican Nationals pled guilty in United States District Court on August 26 to charges of possession and conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Dagoberto Garcia-Guillen, age 21, and his brother, Jesus Garcia-Guillen, age 27, were arrested by the Bowling Green, Kentucky Police (BGPD) on October 1, 2010, after 70 pounds of cocaine was found during a search of their aircraft. The brothers were indicted by a federal grand jury on November 3, 2011.

According to court records, the BGPD were asked by federal law enforcement authorities to assist in identifying the occupants of a Piper Seneca II aircraft scheduled to land at the Bowling Green airport. That request was based on the alleged suspicious behavior of the brothers while purchasing fuel the same day in Cushing, Oklahoma. BGPD officers met the Garcia-Guillen brothers at the Bowling Green airport as the plane was being refuelled. Dagoberto Garcia-Guillen identified himself as the pilot and told law enforcement officers that he was coming from Phoenix, Arizona, that he had no particular destination and was flying from airport to airport to get flight time on his pilot’s license. After consenting to a search of the aircraft, a BGPD officer found two suitcases. A total of 30 bricks of cocaine were found hidden within zippered pockets of the suitcases.

“This is an outstanding example of cooperative law enforcement, with extraordinary contributions from the Bowling Green Police Department, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” stated David J. Hale, United States Attorney. “This collaborative effort successfully thwarted the transportation and sale of a significant cocaine shipment.”

Dagoberto Garcia-Guillen and Jesus Garcia-Guillen face a maximum sentence of life in prison, supervised release of no less than five years, and a fine of up to 8 million dollars.

Sentencing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. on November 30, 2011, at 9 a.m., in federal court, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Shannon. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA), Department of Homeland (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE), and the Bowling Green Police Department.