Jean Carlos Mercado, Cocaine Trafficking, Connecticut 2020

Meriden Man Charged with Cocaine Trafficking Offenses

A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Jean Carlos Mercado, 32, of Meriden, with cocaine trafficking offenses.

According to court documents, law enforcement identified suspicious parcels being mailed from Puerto Rico to an address in Meriden in October 2020. On October 26, 2020, investigators identified Mercado after he picked up a parcel from that location. After Mercado picked up another parcel from the location on November 6, 2020, investigators coordinated a traffic stop of his vehicle, which was unregistered, and towed the vehicle and seized the parcel. A court-authorized search of the parcel revealed two kilograms of cocaine.

In the following months, Mercado conspired with others to pick up postal parcels, and law enforcement seized four more kilograms of cocaine linked to Mercado.

The indictment charges Mercado with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

Mercado was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 21, 2021, and is released on a $100,000 bond.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Meriden Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.

Defendant:

Jean Carlos Mercado

Criminal Charges:

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine

City and State:

Meriden, Connecticut

Exact Date:

October 2020

Sentence or Outcome:

Currently released on a $100,000 bond

Additional Information:

The OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/meriden-man-charged-cocaine-trafficking-offenses