Five Indicted, One Shot in Heroin and Meth Distribution Ring

Five men have been indicted on first-degree drug charges following an undercover investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine and heroin in Burlington and Ocean counties, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced on Monday.

One of the suspects was shot by police after he was arrested on July 7 at a hotel on Fellowship Road in Mt. Laurel. He had met an undercover detective who said he would purchase two kilograms of crystal meth from him.

The investigation, dubbed “Operation Speed Racer,” was led by the New Jersey State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Division of Criminal Justice, Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and Ewing Township Police Department.

Juan Gutierrez-Valencia, 24, of Pemberton Township, was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (1st degree), conspiracy (2nd degree), unlawful possession of a handgun (2nd degree), possession of a handgun while committing a drug offense (2nd degree), receiving stolen property (handgun) (3rd degree) and possession of a gun with a defaced serial number (4th degree).

The following men were charged with first-degree distribution of heroin and second-degree conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin:

• Guadalupe Madrigal-Mejia, 35, of New Egypt (Plumsted Township, Ocean County), aka “Lupe,”
• Elias Corona-Sanchez, 30, of North Hanover, aka “Peligro,”
• Juan Mendez, 47, of New Egypt, and
• Antonio Esqueda, 33, of New Egypt.

Madrigal-Mejia and Corona-Sanchez also are charged with first-degree distribution of methamphetamine, and Madrigal-Mejia, Corona-Sanchez and Esqueda are charged with third-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

“Heroin and methamphetamine are devastating drugs that claim and ruin far too many lives across New Jersey,” Hoffman said. “We charge that these defendants were major drug traffickers who helped fuel the destructive rise in addiction in our state. The State Police and DEA led an excellent undercover investigation that will enable us to keep these men behind bars for a long time.”

When he was arrested on July 7, Guttierez-Valencia intended to make the sale in his car. But once the undercover detective was shown a large amount of methamphetamine in a black gym bag, he signaled members of the State Police TEAMS Unit to arrest Gutierrez-Valencia.

The detective had already exited the car when Gutierrez-Valencia allegedly tried to flee, driving his vehicle toward several troopers.

One trooper fired at Gutierrez-Valencia, who suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound to his arm.

Investigators arrested Gutierrez-Valencia and executed a search warrant for the vehicle, seizing two kilograms of methamphetamine and a stolen 9mm handgun.

The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the police-involved shooting.

It is also investigating the related aggravated assault, eluding and resisting arrest charges against Gutierrez-Valencia.

“The stolen handgun recovered and the aggravated assault against troopers proved that Gutierrez-Valencia would stop at nothing to continue moving large quantities of meth,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the State Police. “This cooperative effort by the State Police and the U.S. DEA has shut down a significant distribution route.”

The other four defendants were arrested the following day at the house where Madrigal-Mejia lived with Mendez and Esqueda on Jacobstown Road in New Egypt.

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The undercover detective allegedly had arranged to buy two kilograms of black tar heroin from Corona-Sanchez and Madrigal-Mejia at the house for a price of $65,000 per kilo.

However, when Madrigal-Mejia and Corona-Sanchez allegedly showed the undercover detective the heroin, the detective signaled members of the State Police TEAMS Unit to make arrests and execute a search warrant at the house.

Mendez, who allegedly had supplied the two kilograms of heroin, was arrested in a vehicle outside the house.

Esqueda was arrested in his bedroom, where investigators found a quantity of cocaine.

Investigators found other amounts of cocaine, including some that were packaged for distribution, in the kitchen and in hall closets.

They also found a digital scale, a heat sealer and packaging materials in a common area of the house.

Madrigal-Mejia and Corona-Sanchez are charged with first-degree distribution of methamphetamine in an incident on May 2 of this year, in which an undercover detective purchased a half-kilogram of crystal meth outside a convenience store on Route 130 in Florence.

The drugs were allegedly delivered to the detective by an unnamed co-conspirator, who allegedly delivered the purchase price of $15,000 to Madrigal-Mejia and Corona-Sanchez, who were parked nearby.

Each of the first-degree charges carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $500,000 for the heroin charge and $300,000 for the methamphetamine charges.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, and the second-degree gun charges carry a mandatory minimum term of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 ½ years, whichever is greater.

Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The five defendants are Mexican nationals and would be subject to deportation if convicted, after serving any sentence imposed.

“We will continue to target major narcotics suppliers through multi-agency operations like this one,” said Director Elie Honig of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. “By locking up these alleged drug traffickers, we have cut off a major supply line of heroin and methamphetamine in South Jersey.”

“Heroin and methamphetamine are two drugs that are wreaking havoc in our communities,” Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, said “The arrest of these individuals sends a clear message that DEA and all of our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to keep these dangerous drugs out of our neighborhoods.”

The images of Juan Gutierrez-Valencia, Guadalupe Madrigal-Mejia, Elias Corona-Sanchez, Juan Mendez and Antonio Esqueda were provided by the Attorney General’s Office