Bergen Men Tried To Transport 20 Kilograms Of Cocaine To Distribute In NJ

Two Bergen County men pleaded guilty for their roles in a scheme to transport 20 kilograms of cocaine to New Jersey and distribute it here, authorities said.

Melvin Feliz, 48, of Englewood Cliffs, and Irving Olivero-Pena, 42, of Edgewater, pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. They are awaiting sentencing.

The men admitted that from January 2011 through March 2014 they conspired to purchase and distribute the cocaine, Fishman said.

According to case documents and court statements, on Oct. 22, 2012 the men met a courier a Bergen County and gave the person nearly $550,000 to transport to California via tractor-trailer where it would be used to purchase and transport the cocaine to New Jersey. Officials seized the money in California.

A third man, Robert Crawford, 40, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for his role in the scheme, Fishman announced. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.