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Abel Montilla was convicted for his role in a drug trafficking organization that used custom-built furniture to ship cocaine from Puerto Rico to the United States between 2018 and 2021.
The drugs were hidden in more than 70 pieces of cube-shaped coffee tables and other furniture, the US Attorney's Office of Southern New York said on Tuesday, Dec. 20. The organization also lied about the cocaine-packed parcels by labeling the cargo as furniture.
Overall, the group managed to ship about 4,000 kilograms of cocaine, worth an estimated $120,000,0000, the office reports. This was done over the course of 27 shipments, of which at least twelve of used addresses affiliated with Montilla.
There were even several occasions where Montilla drove from Massachusetts to Florida in the middle of the night to be present for the cocaine delivery, the office reports.
“The unanimous jury verdict holds Abel Montilla accountable for his role in a widespread cocaine trafficking organization that flooded the streets with four tons of cocaine," US Attorney Damian Williams said. "Montilla was a coordinator of the drug trafficking organization who traveled around the country to manage the delivery of the organization’s cocaine-filled furniture."
Montilla, who was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute narcotics, could face life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, the office said.
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