KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The last of South Florida's "Cocaine Cowboys" who was arrested near Orlando after 26 years on the lam has his first appearance Thursday.
Gustavo "Taby" Falcon, 55, went in front of a U.S. judge, where Gustavo agreed not fight his extradition to Miami. He was also allowed a court-appointed attorney.
The "Cocaine Cowboys" is accused of smuggling 75 tons of cocaine into the United States in the 1980s. The organization was also linked to dozens of murders and shootings.
U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Barry Golden said deputy marshals nabbed Falcon and his wife, Amelia, at an intersection in Kissimmee after the two took a 40-mile bike ride yesterday.
Golden said Falcon obtained fake driver's licenses for his family and apparently had been living in the Orlando area since 1999. He said marshals had thought Falcon was hiding in Mexico or Colombia.
Falcon was booked into the Orange County Jail on Wednesday on charges of cocaine smuggling.
Authorities believed he lived in a suburban community outside of Kissimmee under the alias Luis Reiss.
Neighbors there are shocked about the charges, especially after seeing his photo.
"Just your average Joe, I mean, you would never expect that he was somebody who's dangerous," said Mile Ovies.
"I'm glad that they caught him, good police work," added Jeanne Morgan.
He's locked up at the Orange County Jail, where he'll remain until he's extradited.