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VÉHICULE is continuing its momentum of dropping dope short-films. The latest presentation is titled “Cocaine Cowboys – The Real Story of Willy Falcon and Sal Magluta”, deep diving into the real-life saga of Willy Falcon and Sal Magluta, two Cuban immigrants who rose from nothing to become notorious drug lords in the heart of Miami. This documentary explores their journey from:
• 1980: Pleading guilty to Florida state drug charges, only to remain free on bond, continuing their illicit activities unabated.
• 1982: Moving to California to expand their empire, setting up new bases for cocaine trafficking.
• 1985: Their arrest in California on drug charges, followed by a cunning escape back to South Florida, dodging the law. • • August 1987: Ignoring orders to surrender for earlier Florida convictions, escalating their fugitive status.
• 1988: Magluta’s arrest and miraculous release due to manipulated jail records, showcasing the depth of their corruption.
• October 14, 1991: The duo’s dramatic arrest on 17 drug trafficking counts, ending years of evasion.
• August 6, 1992: The chilling murder of Falcon’s wife, Alina, in what seemed like a targeted hit amidst a wave of witness killings from 1992 to 1995.
• February 1996: Their surprising acquittal due to juror bribery, only to face the consequences later.
• 1999: Facing new charges including witness murder, juror bribery, and money laundering.
• 2002: Magluta’s conviction on money laundering and bribery, with a sentence that would keep him behind bars for life, while acquitted of the murder charges.
• 2003: Falcon pleads guilty to money laundering, securing a lesser sentence, leading to his release and deportation in 2017.
For more information about VÉHICULE, check out their website. You can also check out our interview, with VÉHICULE founder, Christopher Kippenberger, here.