New York Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine and Heroin

NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced to 132 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin in New Jersey from locations in Manhattan, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Juan Carlos Merced Moreno, aka “Samuel,” 45, of Manhattan, New York, pleaded guilty  by videoconference on Dec. 20, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence on July 25, 2023, in Newark federal court.

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

Moreno admitted that from November 2020 through January 2021 he conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. He admitted participating in the conspiracy from locations in Manhattan and that some of the controlled substances were transported to New Jersey.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Moreno to four years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited members of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New York City Airport Border Enforcement Security Task Force under the direction of Ivan J. Arvelo; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark Airport Border Enforcement Security Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel; members of the New York Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Edward Caban; and investigators and assistant prosecutors from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.