A Mexican national, Gilberto Alarcon-Holguin, also known as Beto, has pleaded guilty in the United States on charges related to drug and money laundering conspiracies. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo confirmed that Alarcon-Holguin admitted his involvement before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charges, which involve the distribution of over five kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering, carry a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years in prison, with a potential maximum of life, and a fine of up to $10 million.
The case involves several controlled operations executed by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). An October 2017 operation led to the seizure of 10 kilograms of cocaine from a co-conspirator, along with a subsequent controlled delivery involving sham cocaine in Corfu, NY. During this sting, $259,960 in cash was confiscated following a traffic stop.
Further investigations revealed Alarcon-Holguin's coordination with Edgar Pavia regarding cocaine shipments and money packaging instructions intended for distribution networks in cities such as Buffalo and Louisville, Kentucky. An example includes a delivery of 40 kilograms of cocaine received by co-conspirator Adrian Goudelock in Buffalo. Investigations gathered evidence of multiple deliveries, culminating in the seizure of approximately $2.6 million in total, including $1,144,735 from a commercial truck driver in Chicago.
The investigation was a collaborative effort by various law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, and Customs and Border Protection, among others. The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs alongside partners in Mexico facilitated Alarcon-Holguin’s arrest and extradition to the U.S.
Alarcon-Holguin is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3, 2025, before Judge Sinatra.