TRENTON — Attorney General Peter
C. Harvey and Vaughn L. McKoy, Director,
Division of Criminal Justice, announced
that the Statewide Narcotics Task Force
continues to target illegal drug distribution
and trafficking networks operating in
New Jersey by obtaining criminal indictments
against four individuals on charges related
to the attempted distribution of large
quantities of cocaine and the laundering
of drug transaction monies.
“These
indictments send a loud and clear message
that the Statewide Narcotics Task Force
is tracking the activities of illegal
drug operations, traffickers and couriers
as part of ongoing investigations,”
said Attorney General Harvey. “The
full weight of New Jersey’s law
enforcement community has been dispatched
to combat illegal drug trafficking, including
the resources of the Statewide Narcotics
Task Force and federal, state, county
and local law enforcement agencies. New
Jersey police and prosecutors have stepped-up
their vigilance and will continue their
joint partnerships and ‘round-the-clock’
efforts to infiltrate, investigate and
prosecute drug trafficking cartels operating
in New Jersey.”
According to Criminal Justice Director
McKoy, two separate State Grand Jury indictments
charged four individuals with conspiracy,
attempted possession of a controlled dangerous
substance with intent to distribute (cocaine)
and money laundering. The State Grand
Jury indictments result from investigations
conducted by detectives assigned to the
New Jersey State Police Organized Crime
& Narcotics Bureau and Deputy Attorney’s
General from the Division of Criminal
Justice - Major Narcotics Bureau.
The first indictment charges Jose Antonio
Torres-Ortiz, 32, Phoenix, AZ (last known
address) and Octavio Lopez-Beltran, 28,
Sonora, Mexico, with conspiracy (2nd degree),
attempted possession of a controlled dangerous
substance with intent to distribute (2nd
degree), and attempted possession of a
controlled dangerous substance (3rd degree).
If convicted on all counts, Torres-Ortiz
and Lopez-Beltran face up to 25 years
in state prison and fines of up to $315,000.
According to the indictment, New Jersey
State Police detectives assigned to the
Statewide Narcotics Task Force developed
information in Oct. 2002, that Torres-Ortiz
and Lopez-Beltran were allegedly seeking
to purchase up to 20 kilograms (approximate
street value of $500,000) of cocaine.
As part of the investigation, an undercover
detective posed as a drug courier and
met with the defendants in the parking
lot of a Hudson County hotel on Oct. 25.
As a result of the investigative efforts,
the undercover detectives conducted a
drug “transaction” wherein
defendants Torres-Ortiz and Lopez-Beltran
paid $240,000 cash for 20 kilograms of
purported cocaine.
As a result of the alleged illegal drug
transaction, the defendants were arrested.
After arrest by the New Jersey Statewide
Narcotics Task Force, Torres-Ortiz was
returned to law enforcement authorities
in Ventura County, CA, for prosecution
on outstanding drug-related charges. Torres-Ortiz,
released from custody after posting $100,000
bail by California authorities, failed
to appear for a January, 2003, Ventura
County court proceeding. Torres-Ortiz
is also wanted in Virginia on outstanding
charges of distribution of cocaine. Torres-Ortiz
and Lopez-Beltran are listed in the National
Crime Information Center (NCIC) as fugitives
from justice.
The second State Grand Jury indictment
charges Daniel Guerrero-Cordero, (age
unknown), New York City, NY and Argelio
Ayala-Martinez, (age unknown), Houston,
TX, with money laundering. If convicted
on the third degree charge, both defendants
face up to five years in state prison,
a fine of up to $500,000 and the forfeiture
of confiscated United States currency
and a 1993 Volkswagen automobile.
The investigation by the Statewide Narcotics
Task Force began on Jan. 16, 2002, when
Guerrero-Cordero and Ayala-Martinez were
observed meeting with a known drug trafficker
outside a Union County fast food restaurant.
As part of the continuing drug-trafficking
investigation, State Police surveillance
teams followed Guerrero-Cordero and Ayala-Martinez
from the Union County restaurant to the
New Jersey Turnpike where their vehicle
was stopped. An authorized search of the
1993 Volkswagen Jetta uncovered a plastic
bag containing $16,000 in U.S. currency.
As a result, Guerrero-Cordero and Ayala-Martinez
were arrested. The indictment charges
that Guerrero-Cordero and Ayala-Martinez
were drug couriers and were in possession
of the proceeds of illegal drug transactions.
Both indictments were handed up to Mercer
County Superior Court Judge Maria Marianne
Sypek on Dec. 12. The Torres-Ortiz and
Lopez-Beltran and Guerrero-Cordero and
Ayala-Martinez cases have been assigned
to the Hudson County Superior Court for
trial. Both cases were presented to the
state grand jury by Deputy Attorney General
Leo P. Cox assigned to the Division of
Criminal Justice - Major Narcotics Bureau.
An indictment is an accusation. The defendants
are presumed innocent unless or until
proven guilty.
Additional information, including a copy
of the State Grand Jury indictments, is
available via the Division of Criminal
Justice Web Page located at www.njdcj.org.
The Division of Criminal Justice prosecutes
violations of the state’s criminal
laws independent of the 21 county prosecutors.
The Division encourages cooperation among
all law enforcement agencies statewide
and provides general assistance, support
and guidance when needed to ensure the
uniform and efficient enforcement of New
Jersey laws.
