United States Drug Enforcement Administration

TRENTON, N.J. - Valerie A. Nickerson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, and William E. Fitzpatrick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced a Miami man today admitted his role in a conspiracy to distribute over 45 kilograms of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and morphine.

Sauro D. Estevez Figueredo, 49, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to Count One of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and morphine.

Figueredo was originally arrested with Edwin Alamo Jr., 22, Emmanuel Gonzalez, 33, both of Bronx, New York, Alberto Mora, 53, of Morriston, Florida, and Porfirio Peralta-Nunez, 38, of Jersey City, New Jersey, in February 2016. All five defendants have since pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug distribution conspiracy.

On Feb. 5, 2016, law enforcement observed a tractor trailer, driven by Figueredo and Mora, parked at an intersection near a store in Clifton, New Jersey. That afternoon, Gonzalez and Alamo drove to the tractor trailer and left with a suitcase given to them by Mora. Later, Peralta-Nunez arrived at the tractor trailer with two empty bags and left shortly afterwards with the bags filled.

Figueredo admitted that he collected narcotics and transported them via tractor trailer to New Jersey. He also admitted that Mora handed out a suitcase with 22 kilograms of heroin and afterwards, another conspirator took two bags containing fentanyl, morphine and heroin from the tractor trailer. He further admitted that there were two additional bags on the tractor trailer - one that contained 10 kilograms of fentanyl and one that contained 10 kilograms of cocaine - that would have been provided to other conspirators if not for law enforcement’s intervention.

The drug distribution conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Figueredo’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 15, 2017.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.