Joel Gil-Garcia, 23, from Orlando, Florida, and Maykel Reyes-Castillo, 22, from Yonkers, New York, have been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss. Both individuals received a time-served term of imprisonment followed by a one-year term of supervised release after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting an attempt to bring aliens into the United States.
Reyes-Castillo was sentenced on June 24, 2025, with an additional $500 fine. Gil-Garcia was sentenced earlier on May 22, 2025, and fined $1,000.
Court records indicate that in March 2024, Gil-Garcia arranged to pick up four foreign nationals illegally crossing into Vermont from Canada. He enlisted Reyes-Castillo’s assistance for the trip to Vermont. For this operation, Gil-Garcia received $1,800 while Reyes-Castillo received $500. Neither had any prior criminal record before this incident.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the efforts of the United States Border Patrol in investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra prosecuted the case. Defense representation included Mark Oettinger for Gil-Garcia and Stephanie Greenlees for Reyes-Castillo.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America. The initiative aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations through resources provided by the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
