Four in NJ Plead Guilty to Meth, Heroin Charges

WTXF - New Jersey's Attorney General's office has announced that four men have plead guilty to charges that they distributed methamphetamine and heroin in Burlington and Ocean counties.

According to Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman, the guilty pleas are the result of an undercover investigation by the New Jersey State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, to be called "Operation Speed Racer."

The New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Cape May County Prosecutor's Office, Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office and Ewing Township Police Department also participated in the investigation.

Those pleading guilty, according to the announcement, are:

- Elias Corona-Sanchez, 31, of North Hanover, aka "Peligro," also pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree distribution of heroin and will face a recommended sentence of 10 years in state prison.

- Juan Mendez, 48, of New Egypt, pleaded guilty to second-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute. The state will recommend that he be sentenced to seven years in state prison.

- Antonio Esqueda, 34, of New Egypt, pleaded guilty to third-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The state will recommend that he be sentenced to five years in state prison.

A fifth defendant, Juan Gutierrez-Valencia, 25, of Pemberton Township, was charged in a separate indictment with first-degree possession of methamphetamine and has pled not guilty. He was shot in the arm in a shootout with state troopers in 2014.