South Gate man admits leading drug smuggling ring

SOUTH GATE – A South Gate man pleaded guilty Friday to leading a drug trafficking ring that imported narcotics from Mexico and used modified BMWs with hidden compartments to distribute the drugs throughout the country.

Joel Antonio Villegas, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He faces a life prison sentence when he is sentenced Aug. 30.

Prosecutors said Villegas was the orchestrator of the trafficking ring, and he would pick up the drugs and arrange sales to customers or co- conspirators. He would order conspirators to purchase cars, including BMWs, and install hidden trap compartments in them to conceal and transport drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

He also orchestrated the cross-border caravans using couriers to bring narcotics into the country from Mexico, prosecutors said.

Villegas also ran a stash house in Downey that included materials for the manufacture and distribution of drugs, including packaging materials, pill presses, drug ledgers and money counters, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said that when law enforcement served a warrant at his home in September 2019, he set fire to paperwork inside the home and broke cellphones and other digital devices in an effort to destroy evidence.

Authorities searching his home found multiple firearms, $127,000 in cash and jewelry, including three Rolex watches and a gold necklace, all of which were purchased with drug proceeds, prosecutors said.

An assortment of drugs were seized at the stash house in Downey.