08-04-04 -- Jaramillo-Correa, Mauricio et al. -- Indictment -- News Release

Mexican and Colombian Nationals, Connecticut Man Indicted in Conspiracy to Import More Than Two Tons of Cocaine to N.J.

NEWARK - A Mexican national, Colombian national and a Connecticut man were indicted today, charged with conspiring to import more than two tons of cocaine from Mexico to New Jersey early this year, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

On Jan. 21, Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested one of the men, Heriberto Santos, as he left a Passaic home. In his car, according to a criminal complaint filed at the time, the agents seized $551,800 in cash and a money counter.

One week later, authorities in Mexico arrested another of the defendants, Pablo Rojas, and seized approximately 2,072 kilograms of cocaine (approximately 4,558 pounds). Rojas, Santos, and Mauricio Jaramillo-Correa - who is alleged to have arranged shipment of the drugs from Colombia to Mexico - were indicted today on charges of conspiracy to import and distribute the cocaine.

"This was an incredible amount of cocaine stopped before it made it into this country," Christie said. "This is the kind of successful investigation that hits international drug cartels where it hurts. They lost both their illicit product and a lot of cash."

Rojas, a Mexican national, remains in custody in Mexico, and the United States is seeking his extradition. The U.S. is seeking extradition of Jaramillo-Correa, a Colombian national in custody in Colombia. Santos, originally of Puerto Rico who was living in Connecticut before his arrest, remains in federal custody at the Passaic County Jail, where he is being held without bail.

Santos is expected to be arraigned on the Indictment sometime in the next two weeks before the District Judge to whom the case is assigned.

The Indictment charges each of the defendants with one count of conspiracy to import cocaine from Colombia and Mexico to the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $4 million fine; and one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute approximately 2,071 kilos of cocaine, which carries the same penalties as the first count.

Please see the criminal complaint and Indictment by following the appropriate links at the Public Affairs Office website: www.njusao.org.

U.S. Attorney Christie credited Special Agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Pasterchick, Jr., with the successful investigation

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Defense Counsel for Santos: Joseph S. Elder, Esq., Hartford, Connecticut