A man and a woman associated with the Sinaloa cartel are accused of the execution-style murder of Julio González, a 46-year-old Cuban, in a Miami hotel in November 2022. If found guilty, they could face life imprisonment. The Federal Prosecutor's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced in a statement that on June 20, Jimmy Sánchez from San Diego, California, and Tsvia Kol from Miami, both 36, were formally charged with "conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, discharge of a firearm to promote a drug trafficking crime, and causing a death in the course of the drug trafficking conspiracy."
Details of the Crime
On November 29, 2022, Kol lured González to the Aladdin Hotel in Miami Springs, where she demanded he reveal the whereabouts of a lost package of methamphetamines, suspecting he had stolen it. Prior to this, she had arranged for Sánchez to fly from San Diego to Miami to help locate the package and carry out the murder, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
On November 30, authorities discovered González with two gunshot wounds to his face and head in room 304 of the Aladdin Hotel, located at 901 S. Royal Poinciana Blvd., near Miami International Airport. If convicted, Sánchez and Kol face a mandatory life sentence, up to life on supervised release, and fines of up to $10,000,000.
Legal Proceedings
On April 11, Sánchez was arrested and imprisoned for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but he pleaded not guilty in state court. Kol was detained the morning after the crime, but only on federal drug trafficking charges. She was described in the arrest warrant as "a known high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel."
In May, Kol was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute nearly two kilos of methamphetamines seized in 2020. She was not charged with González's murder until last Thursday.
Background of the Victim
González worked as a valet at a casino and lived in Hialeah Gardens. According to neighbors, he often offered to protect packages to prevent them from being stolen. However, no one knew he was helping the Sinaloa cartel to send methamphetamine to Miami, which was the reason for his murder. The Cuban was expecting a shipment of 11 pounds of methamphetamines on November 16, 2022, to be delivered to a neighboring apartment, where he would go to pick them up. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intercepted the package, preventing the drugs from reaching their destination.
During a surveillance operation, detectives observed González looking for the package. Less than two weeks after this failed delivery, the Cuban was murdered.
The Murder
Kol and Sánchez began communicating three days before the crime, and the woman coordinated the hitman's trip from San Diego, according to message records obtained by the police from her cellphone. Sánchez flew to Miami International Airport, rented a car, and drove to Hallandale Beach, where he met Kol. He then followed her from southern Broward to the Aladdin Hotel to meet González in room 304.
Kol and González exchanged several Instagram messages the night of the murder, according to the court order. Surveillance cameras recorded the woman taking González to the hotel in a Kia sedan; both entered the lobby through the back door around 10:45 p.m. Sánchez was captured entering the premises and heading to the room at 11:20 p.m.
Around 11:23 p.m., the police received a 911 call from González in which he was heard saying, "Aladdin Hotel." When the operator asked if he needed help, he simply responded, "yes, urgent," before the communication was cut off. Dispatchers called back and heard a struggle followed by the words "No, no, no" and the sound of a gunshot.
According to the arrest warrant, Miami Springs police arrived at the hotel at 11:36 p.m. but found nothing out of the ordinary. The next day, around 9 a.m., the hotel manager went to room 304 and found González in a pool of blood. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
During police questioning, González's ex-partner revealed that five days before he was killed, he had posted a photo of a woman named "Sapir Kol"—later identified as Tsvia Kol—with the caption: "If something happens to me, it's her." The ex-girlfriend also informed officers that González had told her Kol was threatening to kill him.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Murder of Julio González
Here are some common questions and answers that provide further insights into the murder of Julio González and the involvement of the Sinaloa cartel.
What charges are Jimmy Sánchez and Tsvia Kol facing?
They are charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, discharge of a firearm to promote a drug trafficking crime, and causing a death in the course of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
What led to the murder of Julio González?
Julio González was murdered after being lured to a hotel by Tsvia Kol, who suspected him of stealing a package of methamphetamines. The murder was carried out with the assistance of Jimmy Sánchez.
Who intercepted the methamphetamine package intended for Julio González?
The package was intercepted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), preventing the drugs from reaching their intended destination.