LA County man who used modified BMWs to smuggle drugs from Mexico sentenced

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - A South Gate man was sentenced today to a dozen years behind bars for running a drug trafficking ring that imported narcotics from Mexico and used modified BMWs with hidden compartments to distribute the dope throughout the country.

Joel Antonio Villegas, 37, pleaded guilty last year in downtown Los Angeles to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Villegas was the leader of the trafficking ring, and he would pick up the drugs and arrange sales to customers or co-conspirators. He ordered associates to purchase cars, including BMWs, and install hidden trap compartments in them to conceal and transport drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana and hash oil, court papers show.   

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

Investigators in the case found a stash house in Downey containing materials for the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, including packaging materials, pill presses, drug ledgers and money counters, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors say that when law enforcement served a warrant at Villegas' home in September 2019, he set fire to paperwork inside the home and broke phones 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.

All told, the conspiracy involved at least 8.6 pounds of heroin, 114 pounds of cocaine, 55 pounds of marijuana, and 6.5 ounces of hash oil, authorities said.