United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson and Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Rachael A. Honig announced two men were sentenced to federal prison terms for possessing a large quantity of cocaine.

Jose Reyes, 60, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced by videoconference before Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to 57 months in prison. Ramon Fabian-Pena, aka “Rafael,” 60, of Passaic County, New Jersey, was sentenced by Judge Wolfson on April 21, 2021, to 30 months in prison.

Reyes and Fabian-Pena each previously pleaded guilty to an information charging them with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of possession to distribute cocaine.

On Jan. 7, 2020, Reyes traveled from New York to Passaic, New Jersey, to oversee the delivery of approximately six kilograms of cocaine. At the direction of Reyes, Fabian-Pena took possession of the narcotics from another individual. Law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance of the narcotics transaction and recovered a bag containing approximately six kilograms of cocaine. A lawful search of messages contained on Reyes’ cell phone revealed that Reyes coordinated the narcotics transaction.

In addition to the prison terms, Judge Wolfson sentenced each defendant to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. She also thanked members of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hamilton Township Police Department for their assistance.

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