Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Re-Entry Post-Deportation

Defendant faces up to 20 years on each charge, sentencing set for June 2025.

CAMDEN – A 41-year-old Mexican national, Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, also known as Arnoldo Urquidez, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry after a felony conviction, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court accepted the guilty plea, with sentencing scheduled for June 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m..

Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Re-Entry

According to court documents:

• November 6, 2023: Santiago Chaparro was apprehended while transporting a backpack containing over 10 kilograms of cocaine, which he admitted was intended for distribution.
• Multiple Deportations: Santiago Chaparro had illegally re-entered the U.S. after being deported three times and had previously sustained an aggravated felony conviction for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Potential Penalties

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine: Maximum 20 years in prison, plus a fine up to $1,000,000.
• Illegal Reentry by a Convicted Felon: Maximum 20 years in prison, plus a fine up to $250,000.

Investigation and Prosecution

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents from:

• Homeland Security Investigations Newark, led by Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel.
• Drug Enforcement Administration New York, led by Frank A. Tarentino.

The prosecution is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Y. Zuckier of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit in Newark.