By: Richard L. Smith
A Paterson resident admitted to illegally possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Tuesday.
Luis Cepeda-Capellan, 27, of Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Court documents and statements reveal that on February 26, 2021, law enforcement officers recovered over five kilograms of cocaine from a vehicle Cepeda-Capellan was driving.
He admitted to possessing the narcotics with the intention of distribution.
The offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes special agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York City Police Department, and New York State Police, with the investigation that led to Cepeda-Capellan's guilty plea.
