Netflix 'Cocaine Cowboys': Where is Augusto Falcon now? Drug lord ran a $2B empire
Drugs have always been always a topic of debate in pop culture because we have so many larger-than-life figures getting wealthy by running drug cartels. However, it is really dangerous and people lose their lives while catering to someone’s needs.
We have seen a lot of drug mafias over the years. From Pablo Escobar to Amado Carrillo Fuentes, these extraordinary figures have done a lot of illegal activities to make an empire. A lot of streaming services have made documentaries and series on them, giving viewers a look at how they used to run the business. Shows like ‘Narcos’ and ‘The Business of Drugs’ give us the real picture of how some people ruin the lives of others to make a fortune for themselves.
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However, there are some people who have never been really covered by media and never came into the limelight for what they did. This is why Netflix is coming out with a documentary titled ‘Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami’, which will tell the story of Augusto ‘Willie’ Falcon, Sal Magluta and Gustavo Falcon. The trio established a massive drug empire by dealing in drugs like cocaine worth billions of dollars.
One-third of the infamous ‘Cocaine Cowboys’ group was Augusto. The Cuban immigrant was taken into custody for all the illegal activities over his career and sent to jail. But where is he now and what did he do? Let’s dig a little deeper and get to know about Augusto.
Who is Augusto ‘Willie’ Falcon?
Augusto was one-third of Miami’s infamous group named Cocaine Cowboys. He started the group with Sal Magluta in the 1980s and soon became a household name. However, Augusto’s relationship with the criminal and drug world was not new as he was arrested twice and indicted on at least three other occasions for drug and firearms charges. But he never spent more than a week in jail.
In 1979, Augusto was a drug smuggler and was working with Magluta. They were caught by the authorities after a sting operation and were found guilty of conspiracy to sell cocaine. They were convicted, but the judge allowed them to remain free while they appealed for their conviction. This turned out to be the biggest mistake. Falcon would go on to work closely with Magluta and embark on a journey that shocked the entire nation. Falcon, who was a Cuban immigrant, helped in importing and distributing over 75 tons of cocaine in the entire country. They earned over $2 billion in the '70s and the '80s, becoming two of the dominant names in the drug business.
At the high of his drug trafficking spree, Augusto was allegedly married to Alina Rossique. However, his empire came crashing down when he and Sal were indicted for drug trafficking crimes, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise. Surprisingly, the grand jury found them “not guilty” of the crimes and they walked free. After the verdict, the US Attorney’s Office ordered a probe on the finances of Magluta and Falcon that revealed the duo handsomely paid the jury members to turn the verdict in their favor.
Everyone included in the matter was charged with criminal offenses. As a result, Magluta was sentenced to 205 years in prison while Falcon got only 20 years after striking a plea deal with the government. Meanwhile, at least one jury member was sent to prison after admitting to taking a $400,000 bribe.
Where is Augusto Falcon now?
According to records, Augusto was released from prison and was deported to another country. The records also show that he got out of prison in 2017 and was immediately taken in by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The officials confirmed that Augusto was deported to the Dominican Republic on November 6, 2018. At first, he was set to be deported to his native country of Cuba. But Augusto said that he won’t go there because he might get killed. His initial appeal was rejected, but the Dominican Republic accepted him as a resident.
At the time, one of the spokesperson from the US Justice Department, Steven Stafford, confirmed that Augusto was deported to the aforementioned nation. He simply said, “Mr. Falcon Ramos has been removed from the United States.”
As of now, it is confirmed that he still lives in the Dominican Republic, but no one knows about his whereabouts.
‘Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami’ will premiere exclusively on Netflix on August 4.