Two men are facing charges after they were accused of trafficking 260 pounds of methamphetamine to New Jersey by truck, federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday.
Marcos Cesar Acosta, 47, of Chicago, and Carlos H. Cordero-Gutierrez, 53, of Mexico, were both arrested on April 28. They were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, with up to life in prison as a maximum possible sentence, along with a fine of up to $10 million, according to the Justice Department.
“By preventing hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from hitting the streets, this historic seizure has made New Jersey a safer place,” Robert Frazer, U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, said in a statement. The prosecutors say it was the largest such seizure on record in the state.
The authorities started to investigate a California-based drug trafficking organization this February, according to a criminal complaint in United States District Court for the District of New Jersey written by Nicholas Jentz, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
While investigating the California operation, the authorities determined that Mr. Acosta was a member of the organization and that Mr. Cordero-Gutierrez was a truck driver for it, Mr. Jentz wrote.
The authorities also accused Mr. Acosta of being associated with the Sinaloa Cartel and of receiving large quantities of drugs from Mexico, according to the criminal complaint.
The two men were ordered to be held by a judge. Mr. Acosta’s lawyer, Margaret M. Grasso, declined to comment when reached Tuesday evening. A lawyer representing Mr. Cordero-Gutierrez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to the authorities, a confidential source on April 27 spoke with Mr. Acosta about a delivery of drugs to New Jersey. Mr. Acosta said he would travel from North Carolina to New Jersey with 120 kilograms of meth, Mr. Jentz wrote. Mr. Acosta also said he was bringing a “kid” with him, according to Mr. Jentz, who said it was Mr. Cordero-Gutierrez.
The day of the planned delivery, Mr. Acosta met with two people who were confidential sources for the authorities. He discussed the price of the drugs, at $1,700 a pound with $200 of each pound going to Mexico, Mr. Jentz said. With the estimated weight of the drugs being 260 pounds, the price would have been around $442,000.
When the parties met for the delivery, the authorities arrived and arrested both men.
Rylee Kirk reports on breaking news, trending topics and major developing stories for The Times.
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