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California Man Charged in Cocaine Conspiracy
A California man has been charged with conspiring to distribute approximately 114 kilograms of cocaine in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Angel Alfonso Maldonado, 25, of Long Beach, California, faces one count of conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, and a $10 million fine.
Maldonado appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court and was detained. According to court documents, law enforcement officers in the area of Clinton Township, New Jersey, observed a tractor-trailer pull off I-78 onto the shoulder of the highway. Maldonado, the owner of the tractor-trailer, appeared nervous when law enforcement approached.
A certified narcotics detection canine screened the outside of the tractor-trailer and alerted for the presence of narcotics on the side of the cabin of the tractor-trailer, as well as inside the cabin. Law enforcement subsequently searched the cabin and found two hidden compartments. Each hidden compartment contained approximately 57 kilograms of suspected narcotics.
The approximately 114 kilograms were plastic wrapped, consistent with narcotics packaging. Law enforcement field-tested some of the kilograms, which tested positive for the presence of cocaine. The investigation leading to today’s charge was credited to the DEA Strike Force, including agents and officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today that Maldonado has been charged with conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and Maldonado is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government is represented by Unit Chief Meredith J. Williams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Repole of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics Unit in Newark. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, the New York City Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, among others.
Maldonado is due back in court for a hearing on the charges. If convicted, he faces a lengthy prison sentence and significant fines.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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