Mexican National Sentenced to 110 Months for Trafficking Cocaine and Illegally Reentering the United States for a Third Time

Camden, N.J. – A Mexican national was sentenced to 110 months in prison for trafficking cocaine and illegally reentering the United States after previously sustaining an aggravated felony conviction, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, also known as Arnoldo Urquidez, 41, of Mexico, had previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry by a convicted felon.

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

On November 6, 2023, Santiago Chaparro was caught by law enforcement transporting a backpack that contained over 10 kilograms of cocaine. Santiago Chaparro admitted that the cocaine was intended for distribution. Additionally, Santiago Chaparro had been deported from the United States to Mexico three times and previously sustained a conviction for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, an aggravated felony.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Kiel sentenced Santiago Chaparro to three years of supervised release and ordered Santiago Chaparro to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding his deportation proceedings.

U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel, and from the Drug Enforcement Administration New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Y. Zuckier of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Victor A. Afanador