Texas Man Admits Conspiring to Distribute 21 Kilograms of Illegal Drugs

TRENTON, N.J. – A Texas man today admitted conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and five grams or more of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Juan Macias Prieto, 53, of El Paso, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and five grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and five grams or more of methamphetamine.

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

On Sept. 17, 2019, Macias Prieto conspired with others to distribute narcotics. Macias Prieto, a commercial truck driver, transported approximately 21 kilograms of narcotics into New Jersey with the intent to distribute the narcotics to conspirators. 

The counts to which Macias Prieto pleaded guilty each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentencing is scheduled for May 26, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan in New York, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics Unit in Newark.