New York City Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison

NORFOLK, Va. – A drug dealer who transported kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin from New York City to Norfolk for distribution was sentenced today to 292 months in prison.

Adrian Paulino, 27, of New York City, pleaded guilty on Dec. 12, 2016, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one kilogram or more of heroin. According to court documents, from December 2013 to May 2015, Paulino and his associates transported kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin from New York City to Norfolk for distribution in various automobiles equipped with secret compartments. Paulino and his co-conspirators traveled back to New York City with the large sums of cash generated from the sale of the drugs in Norfolk. In December 2013, Pocomoke City Police stopped Paulino for speeding on US-13 North in Maryland. During the stop, Paulino allowed the police to search his car and police discovered approximately $64,000 in cash inside Paulino’s vehicle. On March 31, 2015, a Worcester County (MD) Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle for speeding in which Paulino was traveling as a passenger. During the stop, the driver allowed the police to search the vehicle and police discovered approximately $280,000 in cash concealed in several secret compartments inside the vehicle. Also, during the conspiracy, Paulino and his associates utilized an apartment in the 1600 block of West Little Creek Road in Norfolk as a “stash” house, storing cocaine and heroin there prior to its distribution. On May 19, 2015, Virginia State Police stopped a vehicle being operated by Paulino’s associate Warlin Leo on Northampton Boulevard in Virginia Beach, just past the south terminus of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. During the stop, a Virginia State Police drug dog alerted on the vehicle and a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 3.6 kilograms of cocaine and 1.9 kilograms of heroin. On the same date, Norfolk Police searched the “stash” house on Little Creek Road in Norfolk and discovered 138 grams of heroin and 184 grams of cocaine.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; and Michael Goldsmith, Chief of Norfolk Police; and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15-cr-154.