Bronx, New York Man, Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl from Two Drug Mills in the Bronx, Causing Death of 15 Month Old Child

NEWARK, N.J. - A Bronx, New York, man was sentenced today to 156 months in prison for distributing heroin and fentanyl into New Jersey from two drug mills in the Bronx, which resulted in the death of a 15-month-old child, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Jhan Carlos Capellan Maldonado, 35, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to a superseding information charging him with one count of distributing heroin and fentanyl from a drug mill in the Bronx in December 2018. Capellan Maldonado admitted that his distribution of fentanyl caused the death of a 15-month-old child. Judge Salas imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

Capellan Maldonado also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl from a separate drug mill in the Bronx in February 2019. Six other individuals - Reimon Genao Rosario, 28; Dilson Vazquez Genao, 28; Eddie Urena Rodriguez, 39; Francisco Mercedes Gil, 36; Daury Contreras Ulerio, aka "Majimbou," 39; and Jose Antonio Vazquez Pena, aka "Tono," 51 - also of the Bronx, all have previously pleaded guilty to the same charge before Judge Salas and have been sentenced. Judge Salas imposed Capellan Maldonado's sentence today in Newark federal court.

"In December 2018, a 15-month-old child ingested fentanyl and died. The toddler was in a Bronx apartment being used by Capellan Maldonado to run his drug distribution operation, preparing and packaging heroin and fentanyl. His drug mill led directly to the death of this child. The punishment he received today will not bring the child back, but the defendant is being brought to justice for the terrible effects of his role in trafficking this poison. The fentanyl epidemic has caused enormous pain and suffering to our communities, including the death of the child in this case."

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Dec. 27, 2018, Capellan Maldonado was operating a drug mill at an apartment in the Bronx where he employed four individuals to store, mix, and package heroin and fentanyl in quantities for distribution into New Jersey. Capellan Maldonado admitted that while the group was preparing the heroin and fentanyl, a 15-month-old child present in the apartment ingested some of the fentanyl and died as a result. The four other individuals have been charged with homicide by the District Attorney's Office in the Bronx.

In early February 2019, law enforcement officers learned that Capellan Maldonado was again using an apartment in Bronx to store, mix, and package heroin and fentanyl in distribution quantities. Pena stayed at the apartment in order to safeguard the narcotics and narcotics supplies. Maldonado employed five workers at a time - including Rodriguez, Ulerio, Rosario, Gil, and Genao - to assist in preparing the heroin and fentanyl for distribution, which Maldonado then distributed to customers in New Jersey.

On Feb. 27, 2019, law enforcement searched Maldonado's apartment and found seven individuals inside, including Rodriguez, Ulerio, Rosario, Gil, Maldonado, Pena, and Genao. All seven defendants attempted to escape out a window, and all but one - Rosario - were apprehended and arrested by law enforcement officers waiting outside. Rosario was arrested at a later date. Law enforcement recovered nearly a kilogram of fentanyl from the apartment, along with materials to grind and package fentanyl for distribution.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Salas sentenced Maldonado to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.