CAMDEN– A member of a drug-trafficking organization today admitted her role in a conspiracy to distribute significant amounts of illegal drugs in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Officials say, Meylin Troncoso, 32, of Camden, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging her with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school.
Thirteen other members of the drug-trafficking conspiracy – Ronnie Lopez, Nelson Salcedo, Paul Salcedo, Waldemar Garcia, William Carrillo, Elisa Rivera, Ramon Velez, Naeem Sadler, Jasmin Velez, Jameel Byng, Kaliel Johnson, David Velez, and Carlos Perez – previously have pleaded guilty to their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that was based on the 500 block of Pine Street in Camden. The charges against five other defendants remain pending.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Members of the drug-trafficking organization sold heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and fentanyl – in and around Camden.
An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance tactics, confidential informants, consensual recordings, over 40 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of the Camden drug-trafficking organization according to officials.
The count to which Troncoso pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of one year in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $2 million fine. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 18.