A Mexican national has been sentenced to 110 months in prison for trafficking cocaine and illegally reentering the United States after a previous aggravated felony conviction, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, also known as Arnoldo Urquidez, aged 41, from Mexico, had earlier pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court. The charges included possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry by a convicted felon.
Court documents and statements reveal that on November 6, 2023, Santiago Chaparro was apprehended by law enforcement while transporting a backpack containing over 10 kilograms of cocaine. He admitted the cocaine was intended for distribution. Furthermore, Santiago Chaparro had been deported three times from the United States to Mexico and had previously been convicted as an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, categorized as an aggravated felony.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Kiel imposed three years of supervised release on Santiago Chaparro and instructed him to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding his deportation proceedings.
The investigation was credited to special agents from Homeland Security Investigations Newark under Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel’s direction and the Drug Enforcement Administration New York led by Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Y. Zuckier from the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit in Newark is representing the government.
Victor A. Afanador serves as defense counsel for Santiago Chaparro.
