NEWARK, N.J. - Three individuals appeared in federal court today to face allegations that they conspired to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine in the New Brunswick, New Jersey area, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Palemon Silvestre Sierra, 41, Indhira de los Santos Padilla, 33, both of New Brunswick, and Yunior Martinez-Jimenez, 30, of Somerset, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. They were arrested June 27, 2017 and appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion in Newark federal court.
According to the complaint:
On June 27, 2017, Martinez-Jimenez met two individuals at a location on Remsen Avenue in New Brunswick to allegedly sell two kilograms of cocaine. Padilla was in a car driven by Martinez-Jimenez.
After one of the individuals refused to follow Martinez-Jimenez to a second location to pick up the drugs, Martinez-Jimenez and Padilla traveled to a residence on Redmond Street in New Brunswick. Law enforcement observed Sierra exit the residence, retrieve an empty bag from Martinez- Jimenez’s vehicle, return to the residence and emerge minutes later with the bag, which he gave back to Martinez-Jimenez and Padilla.
Martinez-Jimenez and Padilla went back to meet the two individuals at the Remsen Avenue location. After Padilla handed the bag through the passenger side window of the individuals’ vehicle, law enforcement converged on the scene and arrested Martinez-Jimenez and Padilla. They also found two kilograms of cocaine in the bag.
At the direction of law enforcement, Martinez-Jimenez delivered the narcotics proceeds to Sierra at the Redmond Street residence. Sierra was then arrested. Afterwards, law enforcement searched the residence and seized approximately six more kilograms of cocaine from Sierra’s bedroom.
The possession with intent to distribute charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick credited special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian A. Michael, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tazneen Shahabuddin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
