TRENTON, N.J. – A Bronx, New York, man was arrested on Christmas Eve in 2014 while transporting 15 kilograms of heroin, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release. Vionel Rondon Cortorreal, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin in Trenton federal court.
The narcotics charge to which Cortorreal pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 30, 2018.
The investigation leading to Cortorreal’s guilty plea was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division and the New Jersey State Police. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the DEA and officers of the New Jersey State Police with the investigation.
Cortorreal was arrested on December 24, 2014, after law enforcement seized 15 kilograms of heroin from a hidden compartment in the vehicle that he and another conspirator, Dany Francisco-Valerio, 44, of Bronx, were operating.
The defendant’s defense counsel is Brian J. Neary Esq. of Hackensack, New Jersey. Francisco-Valerio previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and awaits sentencing.
The guilty plea is a significant blow to the drug trafficking organization. Cortorreal’s plea deal may be a turning point in the case, and the outcome may have a significant impact on the organization’s future.
Cortorreal’s case highlights the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The DEA’s investigation and the New Jersey State Police’s work demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to keeping communities safe.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking