June 28, 2022
NEWARK, N.J. – Two New York men were charged today with conspiring to distribute approximately 110 kilograms of cocaine as part of an international drug trafficking organization, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Eddie Velez-Pena, 33, of Yonkers, New York, and Robin Medina-Fabian, 38, of the Bronx, New York, are charged by complaint with conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. The defendants are scheduled to appear by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On or June 25, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted surveillance of a tractor-trailer driven by Velez-Pena and believed to contain narcotics for distribution. They observed the tractor-trailer drive through New Jersey and stop for a period of time in Hampton, New Jersey. Velez-Pena drove through New Jersey to the border of Yonkers and the Bronx, New York, where he met with Medina-Fabian. Velez-Pena transferred multiple duffle bags from his tractor-trailer to Medina-Fabian, who then placed them in the SUV.
Law enforcement officers then conducted a stop of Medina-Fabian’s SUV and observed in plain view several duffel bags matching those provided by Velez-Pena. Subsequent to receiving consent to search the SUV from Medina-Fabian, law enforcement recovered several duffle bags containing approximately 110 kilograms of cocaine and drug ledger sheets.
The count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a $10 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, with the investigation leading to the charges.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The New York OCDETF Strike Force is housed at the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA; the New York City Police Department; the New York State Police; Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations; the U. S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Marshals Service; New York National Guard; U.S. Coast Guard; Port Washington Police Department; and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny Chung of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
22-236
Defense counsel:Velez-Pena: Saverio Viggiano Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
Medina-Fabian: Ernesto Cerimele Esq., Newark