Texas Woman Admits Heroin Trafficking Role

CAMDEN, N.J. – Another cog in the heroin machine has turned informant. Cristina Godinez, 36, of San Antonio, Texas, admitted today to her role in a large-scale heroin distribution conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Godinez isn’t some street-level dealer; she was moving weight – a kilogram or more, according to federal prosecutors.

Godinez pleaded guilty via videoconference before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute that substantial amount of heroin. She’s facing a serious stretch behind bars. Her co-defendant, Alba Lilia Diaz, 43, of Chicago, Illinois, already threw in the towel, pleading guilty to the same charge on July 28, 2020. This wasn’t a spontaneous decision; this was a planned operation.

The feds say the operation went down in late July 2019. Diaz rolled into New Jersey on July 22nd, scouting for a deal. She dangled a sample of the product and promised a hefty 15 kilograms for delivery days later. On July 25th, Diaz and Godinez hit the road from Chicago, the heroin stashed inside their vehicle. Once in New Jersey, Godinez took the lead on negotiations, while Diaz babysat the drugs in a hotel room. A classic setup. When a price was agreed upon, Diaz delivered the goods directly to the buyer’s car.

But the deal went south. Special agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were waiting. They swooped in, arresting both women and seizing the 15 kilograms of heroin before it hit the streets. HSI agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina, did the heavy lifting on this investigation. They weren’t alone; the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Jersey State Police, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Gloucester County HIDTA Task Force all pitched in.

Both women are looking at a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison. The maximum? Life. And that’s not all – they could also be hit with a $10 million fine, or twice the profit they made (or the loss caused) by their illegal enterprise. Godinez is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2021. Diaz will hear her fate a bit sooner, on November 20, 2020.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Johns of the Criminal Division in Camden is prosecuting the case. This bust is a stark reminder that the heroin trade continues to poison communities, and those involved will face the full weight of federal law. The streets are a little cleaner today, but the fight is far from over.

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