Major drug dealers convicted

Two men connected to the El Chapo Mexican drug cartel have been convicted of drug charges in Buffalo.

After an eight week trial, a federal jury convicted Herman E. Aguirre, of Brea, Calif., and Troy R. Gillon, of Lockport, Niagara County, of narcotics conspiracy.

Aguirre also was also convicted of operating a continuing criminal enterprise and money laundering conspiracy.

Prosecutors said Aguirre was the leader, and Gillon was a member, of a transnational drug trafficking organization whose supplier was the Sinaloa Cartel, led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

Guzman is now ontrial on drug charges in New York City.

The local organization trafficked thousands of kilograms of illegal narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine throughout the United States, including Lockport and Buffalo, through the mail, in vehicles with hidden compartments, and on pallets loaded on tractor trailers.

The organization created several front companies in California and New York to launder drug proceeds.

Using the fake companies, the defendants disguised the drug shipments as containing sea cucumbers.

The pallets containing the drugs were hidden in containers sealed with foam or spray insulation to avoid detection.

The drug traffickers also deposited illegal proceeds into numerous bank accounts at local Bank of America branches. Local members of the organization deposited over $19 million in illegal proceeds.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than $5 million in illegal narcotics.

Aguirre and Gillon were indicted along with 15 others who have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing.

Defendant Aguirre is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2019, Gillon on June 14, 2019, both before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, who presided over the trial of the case.