Federal jury convicts man who flew from Bogota to Dulles with over two kilograms of cocaine

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A federal jury convicted a Rockville, Maryland, man today on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on April 25, 2024, Gildo Ricci, 69, a citizen of Peru and a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States, arrived at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on a flight from Bogota, Colombia. At the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection area, CBP officers referred RICCI for a secondary inspection, during which officers found several desserts and other food items. After applying pressure to one of the items, it emitted a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride.

When an officer observed that a cake was unusually heavy and decided to probe the cake with a knife, the knife failed to penetrate the cake. The officer began to remove the top layer of the cake and discovered a foil wrapped brick inside. Each cake contained cocaine hydrochloride. Soup mix packets also contained cocaine hydrochloride. Altogether, the CBP officers found 2.07 kilograms of cocaine in Ricci's assorted food and dessert items.

Within one of Ricci's suitcases was a child's backpack that contained of $7,750, which was later determined to be counterfeit.

Ricci faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on April 25. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kai Wah Chan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Matthew S. Davies, Acting Director of CBP's Baltimore Field Office, made the announcement 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-149.