Illegal Alien Sentenced for Trafficking Cocaine and Heroin in New Jersey

Illegal Alien Sentenced for Trafficking Cocaine and Heroin in New Jersey
FILE PHOTO: The seal of the United States Department of Justice is seen on the building exterior of the United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, New York City

NEWARK, N.J. — A Mexican citizen extradited to the United States has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine as part of a large-scale drug trafficking operation, federal prosecutors said.

Norma Flores-Fernandez, also known as “Norma Camarillo,” 56, entered her plea before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Prosecutors said Flores-Fernandez was involved in a Guadalajara-based drug trafficking organization that distributed kilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine across the United States between March 2018 and December 2019. She admitted to holding a leadership role in the conspiracy.

Flores-Fernandez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a maximum possible sentence of 40 years and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentencing is set for July 23, 2025.

Authorities say the case underscores ongoing efforts to dismantle international drug trafficking networks.