A Maryland man has been found guilty of possessing cocaine with the intention to distribute it. The verdict was reached in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Gildo Ricci, a 69-year-old resident of Rockville, Maryland.
Maryland man convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine
Ricci, a citizen of Peru and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, flew into Dulles International Airport in Virginia from Bogota, Colombia, as confirmed by court records and trial evidence.
During a secondary inspection, officers discovered multiple desserts and other food items. When pressure was applied to one of the items, it released a white powdery substance which was later confirmed to be cocaine hydrochloride.
During the inspection, an officer noticed the abnormally heavy weight of a cake and decided to investigate further by using a knife to probe it. However, the knife proved ineffective in penetrating the cake’s surface. Undeterred, the officer proceeded to remove the top layer of the cake and made a shocking discovery – a brick wrapped in foil hidden inside. To their astonishment, it was revealed that each cake contained cocaine hydrochloride. Not only that, but soup mix packets were also found to contain the illicit substance. This unexpected find left the authorities stunned.
In Ricci’s assorted food and dessert items, a total of 2.07 kilograms of cocaine was discovered.
Inside one of Ricci’s suitcases, there was a child’s backpack that held $7,750. However, upon further investigation, it was discovered that the money was counterfeit.
Ricci is potentially looking at a maximum of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 25.
