Cocaine Dealer and Repeat Immigration Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison

WILMINGTON, Del. – A Newark man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry into the United States after removal. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall imposed the sentence.

According to court documents, Adan Cuevas-Arteaga, 44, had been previously deported to Mexico on five separate occasions between 2007 and 2019. Most recently, he illegally returned to the United States and sold cocaine.  Search warrants executed on Cuevas-Artega’s residence and car recovered cocaine, digital scales, drug packaging material, $7,400 in cash, and two rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition.

“The defendant demonstrated a blatant disregard for our nation’s laws by repeatedly entering the United States unlawfully, and, once here, profiting from the distribution of illegal narcotics,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “My office will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute drug dealers, especially those who have no legal right to be in the United States in the first place.”

“The distribution of illegal narcotics continues to plague our communities,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “Adan Cuevas-Arteaga profited from trafficking cocaine while disregarding our immigration laws needed for public safety.  Today’s charges serve as a reminder that the FBI, through the Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force, will continue to target these offenders and the adverse impact they are having on our communities.”

The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Ibrahim prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-CR-134.

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