Paterson Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy

Angelo Restituyo-Garcia admitted to distributing nearly 500 fentanyl pills and faces a minimum of five years in federal prison

A Paterson resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the distribution of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, following an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Angelo Restituyo-Garcia, 34, of Passaic County, entered the plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark.

Restituyo-Garcia pleaded guilty to two federal offenses: conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute the same quantity. Both charges stem from violations of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act and carry significant penalties, including a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years, along with fines of up to $5 million per count.

According to court records and statements made during the plea hearing, Restituyo-Garcia conspired with others from March through May 2020 to distribute fentanyl in pill form. On May 1, 2020, he delivered nearly 500 compressed fentanyl tablets, totaling more than 50 grams, in exchange for $2,750.

The case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. This federal initiative targets significant drug trafficking and criminal organizations using a collaborative, intelligence-driven approach. The investigation was carried out by the DEA’s Newark Division under Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office under Prosecutor Camelia Valdes.

Restituyo-Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2025. He remains subject to federal sentencing guidelines and statutory penalties.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the Special Prosecutions Division is handling the prosecution on behalf of the government.