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A native of Mexico, Galvan Chavez came to the United States in {{date needed}}, working as a dishwasher and eventually achieving citizenship through naturalization. He owned [[Cancun's Mexican Grill]] with locations in [[downtown Pensacola]] (which later closed), [[Gulf Breeze]] and [[Navarre]]. He was sympathetic to the immigrant community and temporarily closed his restaurants during the [[2006]] [[Wikipedia:Great American Boycott|Great American Boycott]] as an act of solidarity.<ref>"Hispanics show support." ''Pensacola News Journal'', April 29, 2006.</ref>

In February [[2007]], Galvan Chavez and his restaurants became the target of a federal investigation after he began meeting with an undercover [[Wikipedia:Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] source in Atlanta. In taped conversations, Galvan Chavez offered to sell the source 100 kilograms of cocaine and 100 pounds of methamphetamine.<ref name="affidavit">"Affidavit: Restaurants fronted major drug ring." ''Pensacola News Journal'', December 8, 2007.</ref> According to authorities, Galvan Chavez knowingly hired illegal immigrants, including [[Alejandro Hatem-Hernandez]], to work in his restaurants and in his drug operations. An acquaintance of Hatem-Hernandez was approached by federal agents and convinced to serve as an undercover informant for the investigation. They tracked the operation to Atlanta and Montgomery, where Galvan Chavez procured the drugs to resell in Northwest Florida. He allegedly used code in correspondence — for example, the word "car" represented a kilogram of cocaine, worth about $22,000<ref name="guilty"/> — and also sold "any type of firearm that [the informant] desired" through his associates.<ref>"[http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2007/1213/front_page/001.html Feds: Chavez a drug kingpin.]" ''Gulf Breeze News'', December 13, 2007.</ref> According to Hatem-Hernandez, Galvan Chavez knew the main cocaine supplier in Atlanta, described as a mercenary who would "just go kill anybody," from "when they were kids."<ref name="affidavit"/>

The two Cancun's Mexican Grill restaurants were raided on [[December 3]], along with the [[7 Mares]] restaurant on [[Pace Boulevard]], by state and federal agents. [[Los Rancheros Mexican Restaurant]] on [[Plantation Road]] was also listed in a 145-page criminal affidavit. The raid resulted in 25 arrests, including Galvan Chavez, who was indicted on federal charges of harboring illegal immigrants and conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Nine of the other arrestees faced federal charges, one on a separate warrant. Fifteen others were held for deportation. Only Galvan Chavez was in the country legally.<ref>"Restaurateur faces drug charges." ''Pensacola News Journal'', December 5, 2007.</ref>

His trial before [[U.S. District Court]] Judge [[Casey Rodgers]] began on [[February 4]], [[2008]]. The prosecution depicted Galvan Chavez as a drug kingpin connected with the Mexican [[Wikipedia:Gulf Cartel|Gulf Cartel]].<ref name="guilty">"Business owner guilty on all counts." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 12, 2008.</ref> Defense attorney [[Michael Griffin]] noted that, during the 10-month investigation, his client was never seen completing a drug deal, but prosecutors focused their case on conspiracy rather than distribution. "He used all of the co-defendants to get his drugs out on the street," said Assistant U.S. Attorney [[David Goldberg]]. "This case is about an organization. This case is about organized crime."<ref>"Trial begins in suspected restaurant drug ring." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 5, 2008.</ref>

Galvan Chavez was found guilty on all four counts by a jury on [[February 11]].<ref name="guilty"/> He was sentenced to life in prison on [[April 30]].<ref>"Restaurateur gets life." ''Pensacola News Journal'', April 30, 2008.</ref>

[[Category:Drug dealers|Galvan Chavez, Rogelio]] [[Category:Natives of Mexico|Galvan Chavez, Rogelio]] [[Category:Restaurateurs|Galvan Chavez, Rogelio]]