By: Richard L. Smith
A Washington state man has pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
According to federal officials, Jose Luis Pineda Torres, 48, of Monroe, Washington, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court on May 20, 2024.
Pineda Torres was charged with one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 15, 2023, Pineda Torres traveled to a warehouse in Secaucus, New Jersey, where individuals loaded boxes into his vehicle.
The boxes contained powder and over 20,000 pills containing fentanyl, with a total weight exceeding 6 kilograms.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, for the investigation that led to the guilty plea.
The charge to which Pineda Torres pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2024.