NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man and a Hudson County man admitted possessing with intent to distribute over a kilogram of fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
Coco Latre, 32, of Belleville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with possession with intent to distribute over one kilogram of fentanyl. Bryant Agurto, 33, of Hoboken, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before Judge Kevin McNulty on Nov. 10, 2021, to an information that charged him with possession with intent to distribute over one kilogram of fentanyl.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On March 5, 2021, Agurto travelled from Hoboken to Latre’s residence in Belleville to retrieve fentanyl that had been packaged by Latre. After Agurto left Latre’s residence, law enforcement officers conducted a motor vehicle stop of Agurto’s car and found the package of fentanyl. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers searched Latre’s residence and recovered more fentanyl, seizing a total of 1.6 kilograms of fentanyl from the car and residence.
The offense to which Agurto and Latre pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a fine of $10 million. Sentencing for Latre is scheduled for April 12, 2022. Sentencing for Agurto is scheduled for March 23, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray A. Mateo of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
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