NEWARK, N.J. - Four men have been charged after they were arrested in New York for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Eddy Urena Rodriguez, 34, Daury Contreras Ulerio, 34, Reimon Genao Rosario, 22, and Francisco Mercedes Gil, 30, all of Bronx, New York, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute approximately 100 grams or more of heroin and fentanyl. Rodriguez appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk and was detained. Ulerio, Rosario, and Gil all appeared last week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion and were detained.
Previously, three other individuals - Jhan Carlos Capellan Maldonado, 30, Jose Antonio Vasquez Pena, a/k/a “Tono," 46, and Dilson Vasquez Genao, 22 - were arrested and detained after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judges Joseph A. Dickson and Michael A. Hammer.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In early February 2019, law enforcement officers learned Maldonado used an apartment in the Bronx to store, mix, and package heroin and fentanyl in quantities for distribution. Pena lived at the apartment in order to safeguard the narcotics and narcotics supplies. Maldonado employed five workers at a time - including Rodriguez, Ulerio, Rosario, Gil, and Genao - to assist in preparing the heroin and fentanyl for distribution, which Maldonado then distributed to customers in New Jersey.
On Feb. 25, 2019, law enforcement officers saw Maldonado drive to a retail store and emerge with several full shopping bags and then drive to the apartment. Genoa came out of the building and met with Maldonado, who got out of his vehicle and gave Genoa the plastic shopping bags. The plastic shopping bags contained materials to package heroin and fentanyl.
Genoa went back inside the building and was followed by law enforcement officers, who watched as Genoa entered Maldonado’s apartment with a key, still carrying the shopping bags. On Feb. 27, 2019, law enforcement searched Maldonado’s apartment and found seven individuals inside, including Rodriguez, Ulerio, Rosario, Gil, Maldonado, Pena, and Genao. All seven defendants attempted to escape out a window in the bedroom, and all but one were apprehended and arrested by law enforcement officers waiting outside.
Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason S. Gould of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit 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
