Two Wilmington residents were arrested on April 14 for allegedly conspiring to distribute approximately four kilograms of cocaine, according to an announcement made by U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace on Apr. 20.
The arrests are significant because they involve a large quantity of cocaine and the use of the United States Postal Service to transport illegal drugs from Puerto Rico to Delaware.
According to court documents, Victor Roman-Maldonado, age 38, and Gilberto Alvarez III, age 42, became subjects of a drug investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Delaware State Police. Law enforcement executed search warrants at both men's residences in Wilmington as well as at a third address and two vehicles connected to Roman-Maldonado. During these searches, officers discovered two parcels containing about four kilograms of cocaine that had been shipped from Puerto Rico.
Both defendants have been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison; however, actual sentences are often less than the maximum allowed by law. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force is continuing its investigation along with the United States Postal Inspection Service and Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Corey J. Hauser are prosecuting the case.
Officials noted that all charges are accusations at this stage: "The charges contained in the criminal complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty." Additional information about this case can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware or through PACER by searching for Case Nos. 26-211M (Roman-Maldonado) and 26-212M (Alvarez).
