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TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram and
Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw
announced that two New Jersey men have been
indicted on first-degree drug charges in
connection with an alleged conspiracy to
distribute 23 kilograms of cocaine.
According
to Paw, a state grand jury returned a five-count
indictment yesterday against Gustavo J.
Cantu-Flores, 35, of Franklin Township,
Somerset County, and Carlos Deleon, 30,
of New Brunswick. Both men were indicted
on first-degree charges of distribution
of cocaine and possession of cocaine with
intent to distribute. Each of those charges
carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in
prison, 10 without possibility of parole,
and a $500,000 criminal fine. The two men
were also charged with second-degree counts
of conspiracy and attempted money laundering.
Cantu-Flores was charged with third-degree
money laundering.
The
charges resulted from a joint investigation
by the New Jersey State Police, the Division
of Criminal Justice, the Middlesex County
Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task
Force and the New Brunswick Police Department
Anti-Crime Unit.
“This
is a great example of a multi-agency investigation
that moved quickly to cut off a supply of
cocaine that was headed for the streets
of our communities,” said Attorney
General Milgram. “According to the
allegations in this indictment, these defendants
were major dealers.”
Deleon
was arrested on April 12 when police stopped
the SUV he was driving on Route 18 in New
Brunswick and allegedly found two packages
inside containing 23 kilograms of cocaine,
which investigators believe were shipped
to him from out of state. It is alleged
that Cantu-Flores and Deleon were involved
in a conspiracy to distribute the cocaine
in New Jersey. That quantity of cocaine
has a street value of more than $450,000.
The investigation started with a tip from
members of the Louisville (Ky.) Metro Police
Department working drug interdiction at
Louisville International Airport.
Cantu-Flores
was arrested on April 13 in the parking
lot of a restaurant on Route 1 in North
Brunswick in possession of $50,000 alleged
to be proceeds of the defendants’
narcotics distribution operation. Investigators
executed search warrants at several locations,
including the defendants’ residences
and a self-storage unit, and bank records
were seized reflecting large deposits of
suspected drug proceeds.
Attorney
General Milgram commended all of the agencies
that participated in the investigation.
Deputy Attorney General Andrew Butchko presented
the case to the grand jury.
The
second-degree attempted money laundering
charge carries a maximum sentence of 10
years in prison and a $500,000 fine, while
the second-degree conspiracy charge carries
a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison
and a $150,000 fine. The third-degree money
laundering charge carries a maximum sentence
of five years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
The
indictment was handed up late yesterday
to Superior Court Judge Neil H. Shuster
in Mercer County. The charges in the indictment
are merely accusations and the defendants
are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
>>
Deleon
and Cantu-Flores-Indictment (186k pdf)
plug-in
Cantu-Flores
is being held in Middlesex County Jail in
lieu of $500,000 bail. Deleon was released
after posting $100,000 bail. The two men
are scheduled to appear for arraignment
before Superior Court Judge Frederick P.
DeVesa in Middlesex County on July 13 at
9 a.m.
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