United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Felipe Genao Minaya, 49, of Nagua, Dominican Republic, was sentenced on November 6, 2020 by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Minaya received a sentence of 70 months’ imprisonment with a three-year term of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
On April 26, 2018, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on an NNN Transport semi-truck hauling a refrigerated trailer for a traffic violation. The driver, Minaya, was an employee of NNN Transport, and the passenger, Nelson Nicholas Nunez-Acosta, was the company owner. During the course of the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. While inspecting the refrigerator unit inside the trailer, the trooper determined that there was a hidden compartment concealed behind the unit. After accessing the hidden compartment, the trooper discovered 42 bricks containing 118 pounds of fentanyl.
Minaya became suspicious when Nunez-Acosta flew from New Jersey to California to meet him regarding picking up a load. Minaya eventually learned that he was transporting something illegal, but wasn’t told what. Nunez-Acosta has also pleaded guilty to the same charge and sentencing is set for Nov. 13, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
