TRENTON, N.J. - A Worcester, Mass., couple was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for traveling to Newark, N.J., to obtain approximately 17 kilos of cocaine that they planned to distribute in their home state, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Enrique Nunez, 37, and his wife, Rosa Nunez, 47, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an Indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute. Judge Sheridan also imposed the sentences today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Rosa and Enrique Nunez traveled from Massachusetts to Newark Liberty International Airport in order to meet with another individual to obtain the cocaine. During the meeting, Rosa Nunez removed approximately $41,000 from a secret compartment in the Nunez’ vehicle.
Enrique Nunez then provided this $41,000 as a facilitation payment for approximately 17 kilograms of cocaine. The defendants were arrested at the airport on May 24, 2010, by special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security (ICE HSI), and the DEA, who also seized the cocaine, car, and cash.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Sheridan sentenced Enrique Nunez and Rosa Nunez each to five years of supervised release and ordered them each to pay a $2,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of ICE HSI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. McLees in Newark, for their work in the investigation leading to today’s sentences, as well as the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell. He also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, and Newark Police Department for their roles.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Cook of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Narcotics/Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit in Newark.
