Long-Time Wilmington Housing Authority Employee Sentenced for Half-Kilogram of Cocaine Found in His Work Van

WILMINGTON, Del. – United States District Court Judge Richard G. Andrews sentenced Edwin Hernandez, 46, of Wilmington, Del. to 18 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release, and Hector Hernandez, 37, of New Castle, Del., to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.  Both men pled guilty yesterday to charges relating to the attempted distribution of a half-kilogram of cocaine in Wilmington, Del. 

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Delaware Charles M. Oberly, III and Gary Tuggle, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

According to statements made at the sentencing hearings and documents filed in court, Edwin and Hector Hernandez, who are brothers, conspired to distribute a significant amount of cocaine.  Edwin Hernandez was arrested on February 5, 2015, in the CVS Pharmacy parking lot at 1005 Delaware Avenue in Wilmington, Delaware.  At the time of his arrest, while on duty as Maintenance Superintendent for the Wilmington Housing Authority, Edwin Hernandez was in possession of more than 500 grams of cocaine, which is valued at over $50,000.  The cocaine was found in a Wilmington Housing Authority van.  Hector Hernandez was arrested at the same time, nearby in his own vehicle, while in possession of a loaded handgun.  Hector Hernandez later admitted to supplying his brother with the cocaine earlier that day.

Edwin Hernandez worked at the Wilmington Housing Authority for 24 years.  His employment was terminated after his arrest in this case.

The case is the product of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Drug Trafficking Task Force, which is part of the New Castle County HIDTA, a collaborative effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  The DEA Drug Trafficking Task Force includes members from the following agencies: DEA, Delaware State Police, New Castle County Police Department, Newark Police Department, Department of Homeland Security – Homeland  Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth L. Van Pelt prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.