Florida Man and New York Man Sentenced for Aiding and Abetting an Attempt to Bring Aliens to the United States

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Joel Gil-Garcia, 23, currently residing in Orlando, Florida, and  Maykel Reyes-Castillo, 22, currently residing in Yonkers, New York, have both been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a time-served term of imprisonment to be followed by a 1-year term of supervised release. Both men pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting an attempt to bring aliens to the United States.

Reyes-Castillo, who was also ordered to pay a $500 fine, was sentenced on June 24, 2025. Gil-Garcia, who was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, was sentenced on May 22, 2025.

According to court records, in March 2024, Gil-Garcia made arrangements with an individual to pick up four foreign nationals crossing into Vermont from Canada illegally. Gil-Garcia asked Reyes-Castillo to drive with him to Vermont. In exchange for his promise to pick up the foreign nationals illegally entering the United States, Gil-Garcia received $1,800 and Reyes-Castillo received $500. Prior to this event, neither Gil-Garcia nor Reyes-Castillo had any criminal history.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Gil-Garcia was represented by Mark Oettinger, Esq., and Reyes-Castillo was represented by Stephanie Greenlees, Esq.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).