Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that two alleged drug traffickers – a man and a woman – were indicted today in connection with the seizure of five pounds of crystal methamphetamine by the Atlantic City Task Force and its federal law enforcement partners.
Eder M. Gonzalez, 27, of South Gate, Calif., and Sandra Y. Parra-Quintero, 27, of Hermosillo, Mexico, were indicted today by an Atlantic County grand jury on charges of first-degree possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy, and third-degree possession of methamphetamine.
They are being held in the Camden County Jail with bail for each set at $350,000.
The partnering agencies developed information that the two defendants were transporting a large quantity of methamphetamine and would be delivering it to a location in Camden on August 9, 2016.
Officers and agents had the location under surveillance when Gonzalez and Parra-Quintero arrived in a Volkswagen Jetta with Mexican plates. Gonzalez allegedly used tools to disassemble the dashboard and remove nine packages wrapped in black duct tape. Law enforcement then converged on the vehicle and arrested the defendants without incident.
The packages allegedly contained approximately five pounds of crystal methamphetamine, with a street value of $40,000.
The first-degree drug charge carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.
Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while the third-degree charge carries a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $35,000.
The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Donna M. Taylor in Atlantic County, where the defendants will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment.