Paterson man found guilty of distributing heroin
NEWARK, N.J. – DEA New Jersey Division Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Craig Carpenito announced a federal jury today found a Paterson, N.J., man guilty of two counts of drug trafficking offenses.
Reinaldo Rodriguez, 30, aka “Memo” and “Killa,” was convicted of conspiracy to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin and possession with the intent to distribute heroin following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court.
From June 2015 through April 20, 2016, Rodriguez participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin to street-level drug dealers in the Paterson area. The conspirators obtained their heroin from a supplier in Bronx, N.Y., where it was packaged and stamped “Goosebumps,” “Transformers,” “Wendy’s” and “New Jack City,” designating the source. Law enforcement officials conducted surveillance while Rodriguez delivered stamped “bricks” of heroin to a confidential source. Rodriguez was heard discussing drug trafficking on court-authorized wiretaps.
Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison for the conspiracy count.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents and task force officers of the DEA New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, and the Paterson Police Department with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.
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