Salvador "Sal" Magluta (born November 5, 1954) is a Cuban American former drug kingpin and powerboat racer who, along with his partner Willy Falcon, operated one of the most significant cocaine trafficking organizations in South Florida history. The duo became known as Los Muchachos, Spanish for "The Boys".
Sal Magluta | |
|---|---|
| Born | Salvador Magluta November 5, 1954 |
| Occupation | Drug Lord |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Conviction(s) | Falsifying documents (1996) Bribery, money laundering (2002) |
| Criminal penalty | 195 years imprisonment |
| Accomplice(s) | Willy Falcon |
| Imprisoned at | USP Allenwood, Gregg Township, PA |
Biography
editEarly life
editSalvador Magluta was born into a Cuban family who owned a bakery in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida. He and Willy Falcon both dropped out of Miami Senior High School, where they were small-time marijuana dealers before becoming involved in the burgeoning cocaine trade.[1][2]
1996 trial
editMagluta, 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.[3][4] Magluta was represented by Roy Black, Martin Weinberg, and Richard Martinez who was Magluta's brother in law.[3] His partner Falcon was represented by Albert Krieger, Susan Van Dusen, and D. Robert "Bobby" Wells.[5] Both Magluta and Falcon were found not guilty after a lengthy trial before Judge Federico Moreno.
Falsifying documents
editIn 1997, Magluta was sentenced to nine years for falsifying documents and jumping bail.[6]
Juror bribery
editFollowing 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.[7][8] In 2003, Magluta's father and son pleaded guilty to stashing illegal drug money, which was used to bribe jurors and intimidate witnesses.[9]
In 2002, Magluta was tried for bribing jurors, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, including killing witnesses.[10] He was found guilty on 12 of the 39 counts against him.[11]
Sentencing and imprisonment
editMagluta was eventually sentenced to 205 years in federal prison.[12] His sentence was later reduced to 195 years on appeal.[13] He was initially transferred to the supermax federal prison facility in Florence, Colorado. Magluta was later represented by Paul Petruzzi and Richard Klugh and sought a new trial claiming over 40 legal violations.[14]
In popular culture
editMagluta and his partner Falcon are the subjects of the 2021 documentary Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami.[15] His name is mentioned in the 2006 film Miami Vice.
References
edit- ^ Willy & Sal, Episode 1: The Rise of Cocaine Cowboys Willy Falcon and Sal Magluta Jim DeFede, Miami New Times (July 29, 2021)
- ^ Netflix’s “Cocaine Cowboys” And The Trouble With Narco Dramas Alessa Dominguez, BuzzFeed News (August 6, 2021)
- ^ 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 2021-08-08.
- ^ Lebowitz, Larry (December 23, 1997). "9 Years for Man Who Fled Court". 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.
- ^ W. O'Neill, Ann (June 6, 2003). "Imprisoned Drug Trafficker's Dad, Son Plead Guilty". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ CM-azares, David (August 6, 2002). "Alleged Drug Lord Killed to Avoid Jail, State Says". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ CM-azares, David (August 16, 2002). "Magluta Guilty of Bribery, Money Laundering". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ BarM-s Diaz, Madeline (January 23, 2003). "Reputed Drug Kingpin Gets Life". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ "#FreeSalMagluta: Cocaine Cowboy Seeks Compassionate Release from Federal Prison".
- ^ "Inside The Cartels Of The Real "Miami Vice"". America's Most Wanted. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ Desta, Yohana (August 6, 2021). "Cocaine Cowboys: Inside the Wild Netflix Docuseries about Miami's Drug Trade". Vanity Fair.