United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Jersey Field Division Towanda R. Thorne-James and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Robert Frazer announced a New York woman was convicted by a federal jury yesterday for offenses related to her trafficking of 400 grams or more of fentanyl in April and May 2020.

Naomi Hernandez, 34, of New York, New York, was convicted for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on May 13, 2020, and for conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl between April 2020 and May 13, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court yesterday, August 26, 2026 following a one week jury trial. Sentencing is set for January 12, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.

According to documents in this case and the evidence at trial:

In April 2020, Hernandez began communicating with two confidential sources working for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on an online messaging platform, seeking to sell a large quantity of fentanyl. Hernandez, a New York City resident, met with one of the confidential sources in Paterson, New Jersey, twice in April 2020 to hand over samples of the fentanyl she was offering for sale. She then met with the confidential source again in Paterson on May 11, 2020, and sold 98.6 grams of fentanyl for $5,500.  She was arrested two days later, on May 13, 2020, riding in a van from her residence in upper Manhattan to Paterson on her way to meet with the confidential source again to sell a larger quantity of fentanyl for $45,000.  When law enforcement stopped the van and arrested Hernandez, they also found and seized the 499.6 grams of fentanyl that Hernandez planned to sell to the confidential source.

Hernandez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life, imprisonment, on each count of conviction.  She also faces a maximum fine of $10 million.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation.  U.S. Attorney Frazer also thanked the members of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.