A two-kilogram wave of poison meant for New Jersey streets crashed into a federal investigation instead. Sasha Melendez, 38, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine shipped straight from Puerto Rico. The sentence, handed down in Newark federal court, marks the latest fallout from a cross-island drug pipeline dismantled by federal agents.
Melendez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute cocaine, admitting her involvement before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi. The case traces back to March 24, 2015, when Melendez accepted delivery of a mail parcel from Puerto Rico—federal investigators were watching. Inside: approximately two kilograms of high-grade cocaine, packed and shipped like consumer goods. The postal ruse failed; Melendez was arrested moments after taking possession.
According to court documents and statements made during her plea hearing, Melendez conspired directly with Ramis Esteves, 33, of New York, to distribute the illicit cargo. The scheme relied on the U.S. Postal Service as a smuggling conduit, exploiting the system’s reach while drawing the attention of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Both agencies ran a coordinated investigation that captured the operation in motion.
Judge Cecchi not only imposed the 37-month prison term but also sentenced Melendez to three years of supervised release following her incarceration. The supervised release adds a layer of federal oversight meant to prevent reentry into criminal activity—a common safeguard in drug trafficking convictions involving organized behavior.
Co-defendant Ramis Esteves has also pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Authorities have not yet disclosed the full breadth of the network, but the use of mail parcels from Puerto Rico suggests a logistics model increasingly targeted by federal interdiction units. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Paul J. Fishman, emphasized the ongoing crackdown on drug distribution networks exploiting postal channels.
The investigation was conducted by postal inspectors under Inspector in Charge James V. Buthorn and DEA special agents under Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan M. Peck handled the prosecution. Melendez was represented by defense attorney Stacey Van Malden, Esq. The case stands as a stark reminder: even quiet suburban deliveries can conceal deadly criminal agendas.
Related Federal Cases
- Tonawanda Man Gets 46 Months for Cocaine Scheme · Puerto Rico
- Buffalo Man Gets 12 Years for Heroin, Cocaine Ring · Puerto Rico
- Philadelphia Man Gets 10 Years for Cocaine Trafficking Ring · Puerto Rico
- Hector Urena Gets 54 Months for Stolen Identity Tax Fraud · Puerto Rico
- Camilo Enriquez-Nunez Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking