GREENBELT, MD – William Reyes Garcia, 33, of Silver Spring, Maryland, is headed to federal prison for 15 years after being convicted as a key player in a large-scale cocaine distribution network. U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby handed down the sentence yesterday, along with a 5-year supervised release term, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of ammunition. Garcia, also known as “Will,” ran a sophisticated operation that moved at least five kilograms of cocaine, according to court documents.
The bust, the result of a lengthy investigation by multiple federal and local agencies, revealed Garcia wasn’t just a street-level dealer. Evidence presented in court showed he was a manager, directing the flow of drugs into the region. Between September 2020 and January 2022, the drug trafficking organization (DTO) shipped in approximately 15.65 kilograms of cocaine in four separate packages from Brownsville, Texas, to a Beltsville, Maryland, business linked to the operation. Garcia’s fingerprints were found directly on the lids of the cocaine containers. Investigators tracked additional packages believed to contain narcotics to the same business and a co-conspirator’s home, with IP addresses linked to Garcia monitoring their delivery.
The investigation didn’t stop at cocaine. A raid on locations connected to Garcia’s residence in January 2022 turned up a disturbing arsenal. Law enforcement seized over 139 grams of cocaine and a staggering 101 kilograms of marijuana. More alarmingly, they found a privately manufactured 9mm semi-automatic handgun – a “ghost gun” with no serial number – along with a loaded magazine containing 22 rounds. Investigators also recovered 53 rounds of .40-caliber ammunition, 42 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition, 50 rounds of .380-caliber ammunition, and various firearm parts, including a frame, slide, and barrel. Drug paraphernalia, including digital scales and a money counter, were also seized.
Garcia’s prior felony conviction made the possession of firearms and ammunition illegal. He wasn’t working alone. Fabricio Alexis Rivera, 32, of Rockville, Maryland, and Rodney Ricky Rivera, 29, of Beltsville, Maryland, have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Fernando Josue Garcia, 32, of Glenn Dale, Maryland, received a 63-month sentence, while Noel Reyes Jr., 30, of Bowie, Maryland, was sentenced to 72 months. Three other co-defendants still face charges. The case was a part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency initiative aimed at dismantling major criminal enterprises.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, led by U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron, spearheaded the prosecution, with significant contributions from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Division, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department. Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of HSI Baltimore and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the DEA-Washington Division played key roles in the investigation, alongside Chiefs Marcus Jones and Malik Aziz of the respective police departments.
This conviction underscores the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region and the serious consequences awaiting those who choose to profit from the misery of others. Garcia’s 15-year sentence sends a clear message: moving large quantities of cocaine and possessing illegal firearms will be met with swift and severe justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow the cases of the remaining co-defendants as they move through the legal system.
Related Federal Cases
- Alicia Garcia, Cocaine Smuggling, Texas 2024 · Texas
- Luis Alberto Hernandez-Garcia, Drug Trafficking, Texas 2013 · Texas
- Gonzalez-Garcia, Heroin Smuggling, Waco TX, 2023 · Texas
- Rhasheel Charles, Cocaine Distribution, USVI, 2024 · New York
- Ernest Valentine, Crack Cocaine Distribution, NJ 2023 · Washington
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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