Two admit plot to smuggle cocaine from panama through newark airport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 15, 2011

 

NEWARK, N.J. – Two New York men admitted today that they worked together to arrange the importation of cocaine from Panama into the United States via Newark Liberty International Airport, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Reginald Estrada, 35, and Michael Rose, 33, both of Brooklyn, each pleaded guilty to an Indictment charging them with conspiracy to import cocaine. The two men entered guilty pleas this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Estrada and Rose each admitted agreeing to import cocaine by arranging for a courier to transport the drug into the country on a commercial aircraft. As part of the conspiracy, Estrada gave the courier money for a plane ticket from Newark Liberty International airport to Panama. On March 27, 2011, the courier returned to Newark Liberty on a commercial aircraft, transporting approximately 1.9 kilos of cocaine. When Estrada and Rose arrived at the airport to pick up the courier, they were apprehended by law enforcement.

The charge to which Estrada and Rose pleaded guilty carries a minimum potential penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine. Sentencing is currently scheduled for November 30, 2011.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. McLees in Newark, for their work in the investigation of this case. He also thanked officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the leadership of Director of New York Field Operations Robert E. Perez, and detectives and officers of the Port Authority Police Department of New York and New Jersey, under the direction of Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko, for their roles.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Cook of the
U.S. Attorney’s Office Narcotics/Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel:

Estrada: Ruth Liebesman Esq., Wood-Ridge, N.J.
Rose: Donna Newman Esq., New York

Estrada, Reginald and Rose, Michael Indictment

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