Mexican national sentenced for drug trafficking, illegally reentering the United States three times

PHILADELPHIA - A Mexican national who federal prosecutors say illegally reentered the United States three times was sentenced to nearly a decade behind bars on drug charges.

Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, 41, was found by police with a backpack that they say contained 10 kilos of cocaine that he was planning to sell. 

Chaparro, also known as Arnoldo Urquidez, was previously charged in the United States with assault and re-entered the country twice before his most recent arrest.

What we know:

Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, 41, pleaded guilty in a Camden federal court to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry by a convicted felon.

The charges come after Chaparro, also known as Arnoldo Urquidez, was found in Nov. 2023 with a backpack that contained 10 kilos of cocaine, prosecutors said.

Chaparro admitted to law enforcement authorities that the cocaine in the backpack was intended for distribution, a press release from U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said.

This was the third time Chapparo was caught having illegally entered the United States.

He was previously convicted in the United States of being an undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm, which prosecutors say is an aggravated felony.

In addition to his prison sentence, Chapparo was given three years of supervised release and ordered to cooperate with ICE on his eventual deportation proceedings.

What they're saying:

U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents from Homeland Security Investigations Newark and from the Drug Enforcement Administration New York.