Aurora Drug Trafficker Who Hid Coke, Heroin In Tire Gets 19 Years

AURORA, IL -- An Aurora man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for his role in part of a drug ring that was working to spread cocaine and heroin throughout Kane County. Gabriel Aguilar Velez, 31, who pleaded guilty to felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, has been in custody since he was caught with over 11 kilos of coke and 11 kilos of heroin hidden in a semi-truck tire in 2017, authorities say.

Aguilar-Velez was the last to be sentenced from a group of three drug traffickers who were charged in the drug sting. Juan Carlos Rivera-Arroyo, 35, and Israel Tavizon, 36, were each previously sentenced to 19 years and 19 years and six months in prison.

Aguilar-Velez, Rivera-Arroyo, and Tavizon, were caught in July 2017 after an investigation conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Immigration and Customs’ Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) department. Their case was prosecuted jointly by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon.

In a statement about Aguilar-Velez's sentence, McMahon said, "Drug dealers are a threat to every community. Cocaine is the substance involved in most drug arrests in Kane County, and 135 people have died from opioid overdoes in Kane County the last two years."

He thanked Raoul for his assistance on the investigation and on helping to stem the tide of drug trafficking in Kane County.

Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman said, "This is another great example of how partnerships across our region can allow us all to live in safer, stronger communities.”