A Rockville, Maryland man has been convicted by a federal jury on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The case centers around Gildo Ricci, a 69-year-old citizen of Peru and Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States, who was found with over two kilograms of cocaine upon his arrival at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
On April 25, 2024, Ricci arrived from Bogota, Colombia. During a secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, several desserts and other food items were found in his possession. A white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride was discovered when pressure was applied to one of these items.
Further inspection revealed that cakes carried by Ricci contained foil-wrapped bricks of cocaine hydrochloride, as did soup mix packets. In total, CBP officers uncovered 2.07 kilograms of cocaine hidden within the assorted food and dessert items.
Additionally, $7,750 in counterfeit currency was found inside a child's backpack in one of Ricci’s suitcases.
Ricci faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on April 25. Federal crimes often result in sentences less than the maximum penalties due to considerations made by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The announcement came from Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kai Wah Chan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington D.C.; and Matthew S. Davies, Acting Director of CBP’s Baltimore Field Office after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the verdict.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Carter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony R. Roberts are prosecuting the case.
Details related to this case can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER by searching Case No. 1:24-cr-149.