Federal Bureau of Investigation - Newark Field Division - Press Release

CAMDEN – The leader of a drug trafficking network that was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of cocaine in the Cumberland County area was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today for his role in the drug conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle also ordered Felipe Telleria, 36, a.k.a. “Alex,” of Vineland, to serve 5 years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison term. In sentencing Telleria, Judge Simandle noted that without the U.S. Government’s downward departure motion which detailed Telleria’s cooperation and truthful testimony in the trial of co-defendant Malik Nelson, 28, of Bridgeton, the court would have sentenced Telleria to approximately 300 months in prison.

After his arrest Telleria cooperated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and as a result testified in a trial against Nelson, who was convicted on April 22, 2008, of one count of drug trafficking conspiracy and two counts of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. During the trial, Telleria testified that Nelson assisted the drug organization by distributing multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine and redistributed more than 5 kilograms of cocaine from the organization.

On March 9, 2007, Telleria pleaded guilty before Judge Simandle to a one-count Superseding Indictment that charged conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of powder cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. The Superseding Indictment, which was returned on July 26, 2006, charged Telleria and Jose Luis Delgado, 22, of Vineland, and five others with conspiring from July 2004 through July 2006 to distribute and possess with intent to distribute large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine in the Vineland area.

Telleria and Delgado were arrested on July 11, 2006, in Vineland on an earlier one-count Indictment. Also charged in the earlier Indictment were Fernando Cuevas, who was arrested near Toledo on July 10, 2006, by the Ohio State Police, and Juan Carlos Garcia, who was arrested on July 14, 2006, in Woodbine. Cuevas was a supplier of cocaine to Telleria and Garcia was a distributor of cocaine obtained from Telleria.

On Feb. 15, 2007, Telleria’s New York supplier Miquea Isidro Acosta, 47, a.k.a. “Isidro,” of New York, N.Y., pleaded guilty before Judge Simandle to a one-count Superseding Information, which charged conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. At his plea hearing, Acosta admitted that he regularly supplied Telleria with kilogram quantities of cocaine. Acosta’s sentencing is schedule for August 1.

Judge Simandle sentenced Cuevas to 70 months in prison on Oct. 19, 2007, and on Dec. 11, 2007, sentenced Delgado 96 months in federal prison. All of the Telleria‘s codefendants have either pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial.

In determining the actual sentence, Judge Simandle consulted the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited the Special Agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gerald P. McAleer in Newark; and Investigators with member agencies of the Cumberland County Narcotics Task Force, under the direction of Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella, with developing the investigation which resulted in the Superseding Indictment and Indictments.

The Cumberland County Narcotics Task Force is comprised of the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, DEA, FBI, ATF, New Jersey State Police, Vineland Police Department, Bridgeton Police Department, Millville Police Department.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diana V. Carrig and Matthew Skahill of the U.S. Attorney's Criminal Division in Camden.

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Defense attorney: John F. Renner, Esq. Evesham Twp.

United States Department of Justice U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey 970 Broad Street, Seventh Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102 Christopher J. Christie, U.S. Attorney More Information? Call the Assistant U.S. Attorney or other contact listed below to see if more information is available. News on the Internet: News Releases and related documents are posted at our website. Go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/index.html
Assistant U.S. Attorney: ANTHONY MOSCATO, Jr. 973-645-2752 tell0718.rel FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2008	Greg Reinert, PAO Public Affairs Office 856-757-5233 973-645-2888

Leader of Cumberland County Cocaine Trafficking Network Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison
CAMDEN – The leader of a drug trafficking network that was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of cocaine in the Cumberland County area was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today for his role in the drug conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced. U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle also ordered Felipe Telleria, 36, a.k.a. “Alex,” of Vineland, to serve 5 years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison term. In sentencing Telleria, Judge Simandle noted that without the U.S. Government’s downward departure motion which detailed Telleria’s cooperation and truthful testimony in the trial of co-defendant Malik Nelson, 28, of Bridgeton, the court would have sentenced Telleria to approximately 300 months in prison. After his arrest Telleria cooperated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and as a result testified in a trial against Nelson, who was convicted on April 22, 2008, of one count of drug trafficking conspiracy and two counts of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. During the trial, Telleria testified that Nelson assisted the drug organization by distributing multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine and redistributed more than 5 kilograms of cocaine from the organization. On March 9, 2007, Telleria pleaded guilty before Judge Simandle to a one-count Superseding Indictment that charged conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of powder cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. The Superseding Indictment, which was returned on July 26, 2006, charged Telleria and Jose Luis Delgado, 22, of Vineland, and five others with conspiring from July 2004 through July 2006 to distribute and possess with intent to distribute large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine in the Vineland area. Telleria and Delgado were arrested on July 11, 2006, in Vineland on an earlier one-count Indictment. Also charged in the earlier Indictment were Fernando Cuevas, who was arrested near Toledo on July 10, 2006, by the Ohio State Police, and Juan Carlos Garcia, who was arrested on July 14, 2006, in Woodbine. Cuevas was a supplier of cocaine to Telleria and Garcia was a distributor of cocaine obtained from Telleria. On Feb. 15, 2007, Telleria’s New York supplier Miquea Isidro Acosta, 47, a.k.a. “Isidro,” of New York, N.Y., pleaded guilty before Judge Simandle to a one-count Superseding Information, which charged conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. At his plea hearing, Acosta admitted that he regularly supplied Telleria with kilogram quantities of cocaine. Acosta’s sentencing is schedule for August 1. Judge Simandle sentenced Cuevas to 70 months in prison on Oct. 19, 2007, and on Dec. 11, 2007, sentenced Delgado 96 months in federal prison. All of the Telleria‘s codefendants have either pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial. In determining the actual sentence, Judge Simandle consulted the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence. Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time. Christie credited the Special Agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gerald P. McAleer in Newark; and Investigators with member agencies of the Cumberland County Narcotics Task Force, under the direction of Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella, with developing the investigation which resulted in the Superseding Indictment and Indictments. The Cumberland County Narcotics Task Force is comprised of the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, DEA, FBI, ATF, New Jersey State Police, Vineland Police Department, Bridgeton Police Department, Millville Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diana V. Carrig and Matthew Skahill of the U.S. Attorney's Criminal Division in Camden. – end – Defense attorney: John F. Renner, Esq. Evesham Twp.