Francisco Perez, 31, and Nadia Moronta Pena, 33, both of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, were hit with federal charges today for allegedly flooding New Jersey streets with deadly fake oxycodone pills packed with heroin. The pair are accused of peddling thousands of counterfeit tablets designed to mimic legitimate 30-milligram oxycodone—a scam that puts users at extreme risk of overdose and death, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
The criminal complaint alleges Perez began distributing the fraudulent pills during a January 23, 2018, deal in Paterson, New Jersey, where he sold an undercover agent approximately 1,000 pills. Lab analysis later revealed the tablets contained a dangerous cocktail of tramadol, a Schedule IV opioid, and pure heroin. The pills were indistinguishable in appearance from real pharmaceutical oxycodone—same size, shape, color, and imprint—making them a ticking time bomb for buyers.
Just over a week later, on February 7, 2018, the undercover operation intensified. Perez met the agent again in Paterson to broker a deal for up to 40,000 more pills. Surveillance captured Perez signaling to Pena, who carried a white bag filled with thousands of the counterfeit tablets for inspection. The two were arrested on the spot. Over 20,000 additional fake pills were seized at the scene—each one a potential death sentence.
Simultaneous with the arrests, law enforcement raided the couple’s Hazleton residence. Inside, they uncovered a virtual drug lab: a kilogram of suspected heroin, pill-press machinery, bottles labeled “Fentanyl,” and other bulk narcotics. Hidden in a wall compartment, agents also recovered a loaded firearm—evidence suggesting the operation was protected by force and fear.
The investigation was led by DEA special agents under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson in Newark, with support from the DEA Scranton Resident Office, Hazleton Police Department, and Passaic County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Wangenheim is prosecuting the case for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
Perez was ordered detained during today’s hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court. Pena was released on a $150,000 unsecured bond. Perez is represented by John Yauch, Esq.; Pena by Paulette Pitt, Esq. The charges are merely accusations—both remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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