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Somerset Man Arrested for Distributing Fentanyl Linked to Four Fatalities
Mauricio Gutierrez faces serious charges as U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announces his arrest following four overdose deaths.
Morristown, NJ — Mauricio Gutierrez, a 50-year-old resident of Somerset, New Jersey, has been charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl that resulted in death, and one count of distributing cocaine. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the charges after Gutierrez was arrested and appeared in Newark federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III.
According to court documents and statements made during the initial hearing, Gutierrez is accused of distributing fentanyl in at least two separate transactions on June 24, 2022. The victims were later found unresponsive in their vehicles in North Brunswick and Franklin Township, New Jersey. Subsequent toxicology reports confirmed lethal amounts of fentanyl in the victims' blood.
If convicted, Gutierrez faces severe penalties: each count of drug distribution resulting in death carries a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of 20 years, and fines up to $1 million. The charge of distributing controlled substances carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Law enforcement apprehended Gutierrez on September 27, 2023, in Piscataway, New Jersey, after he was observed engaging in a hand-to-hand narcotics sale. The distributed substance later tested positive for cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents from Homeland Security Investigations Newark, led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kurtz, and thanked the North Brunswick Department, under Chief Joe Battaglia, and Franklin Township Police Department, led by Public Safety Director Quovella Maeweather, for their assistance in the case.
The arrest and charges stem from operations by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), aimed at identifying, disrupting, and dismantling high-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
The government's case is represented by Shawn Barnes, Chief of the Office’s OCDETF/Narcotics Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Fell, both based in Newark.
It is essential to note that the charges and allegations against Gutierrez are merely accusations at this point. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case serves as a grave reminder of the ongoing opioid crisis affecting not only Somerset County but also the larger New Jersey community. Local residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.
