United States Drug Enforcement Administration

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 two Passaic County, N.J., men are charged in connection with the seizure of more than 20 kilograms of cocaine.

Carlos Nieves, 24, and Yocadis Montas-Cepeda, 24, both of Paterson, N.J., were arrested in Bergen County, N.J., on Nov. 19, 2018. They are charged by complaint with one count each of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. Nieves is scheduled to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court. Montas-Cepeda is expected to make his initial appearance at a later date.

Nieves was driving a car that was the subject of a motor vehicle stop on Interstate 80. Montas-Cepeda was a passenger in the car. The defendants’ statements and other suspicious activities caused law enforcement to believe that the vehicle was being used to traffic narcotics. After receiving consent to search the vehicle, law enforcement officers recovered approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine from the interior.

The count of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $10 million.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, New Jersey Division, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. He also thanked the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and that office’s Narcotics Task Force.

# # #