Related Federal Cases
Florida Man, New York Man Sentenced for Smuggling Migrants
Burlington, Vermont – In a brazen attempt to bring in undocumented immigrants, Joel Gil-Garcia, 23, of Orlando, Florida, and Maykel Reyes-Castillo, 22, of Yonkers, New York, have been sentenced to time-served terms of imprisonment for their roles in the scheme.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, Gil-Garcia and Reyes-Castillo pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting an attempt to bring aliens to the United States after they attempted to pick up four foreign nationals crossing into Vermont from Canada in March 2024.
As part of their plea deal, Gil-Garcia was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, while Reyes-Castillo was ordered to pay a $500 fine. Gil-Garcia was sentenced to time-served on May 22, 2025, while Reyes-Castillo was sentenced on June 24, 2025.
Both men were also handed down 1-year terms of supervised release after their prison sentences. Prior to this event, neither Gil-Garcia nor Reyes-Castillo had any criminal history.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra, and both men were represented by their respective lawyers, Mark Oettinger, Esq., and Stephanie Greenlees, Esq.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol, who worked tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) to achieve its goals.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that the sentencing of Gil-Garcia and Reyes-Castillo is a significant victory in the fight against human trafficking and migration smuggling.
As the Grimy Times continues to report on the war on crime, it is clear that the battle against human trafficking and migration smuggling is far from over, and law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Human TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman Trafficking