Brooklyn Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking in New Jersey

A New York man receives a nearly five-year federal prison sentence for distributing fentanyl in Clifton, NJ.

CLIFTON, N.J. - Juan De La Cruz Infante Torres, a 52-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a drug trafficking conspiracy. The sentence, delivered by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court, comes after Torres admitted to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, as well as possession with intent to distribute the drug.

The charges stem from incidents in May and June 2021, when Torres and his accomplice, Billy Castro, were implicated in transporting and attempting to sell substantial amounts of fentanyl in Clifton, New Jersey. Their arrest occurred on June 15, 2021, as they tried to distribute approximately 2 kilograms of fentanyl. A subsequent search of Castro’s residence in Queens, New York, led to the discovery of an additional 2 kilograms of the drug.

Following his prison term, Torres will undergo two years of supervised release. The sentencing is part of the broader efforts of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a multi-agency initiative aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to public safety.

The investigation received contributions from various agencies, including the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, all under the coordination of U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Pesce and Aja Espinosa of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark led the prosecution. The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis impacting communities across the United States.