Dominican National Extradited to Newark to Face Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

Ezequiel Brito, who fled pre-trial supervision in 2022, now in U.S. custody on heroin and fentanyl distribution indictment.

NEWARK, N.J. — A Dominican Republic citizen who absconded from pre-trial supervision in New Jersey nearly three years ago has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges of heroin and fentanyl trafficking, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Ezequiel Brito, also known as Jose Luis Portorreal Cruz, 40, was returned to U.S. custody and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court on July 2, 2025. He is currently being detained pending further legal proceedings.

Brito is charged by federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute the same substances. According to court documents, the charges stem from a June 17, 2021, incident in which Brito allegedly conspired to traffic heroin and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. He was arrested on the same day, initially released on a $100,000 unsecured bond, and placed under pre-trial supervision.

In September 2022, Brito fled the United States in violation of his release conditions. Authorities later located him in the Dominican Republic, and his extradition was secured in coordination with international law enforcement agencies.

If convicted, Brito faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison, as well as a fine of up to $10 million on each count.

The investigation into Brito’s activities was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly M. Lyons of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven approach involving multiple federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt high-level drug trafficking and criminal networks.

The charges contained in the indictment remain accusations, and Brito is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.