By: Richard L. Smith
An Essex County man has been convicted by a federal jury for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that operated throughout New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Samuel Alectus, also known as “Capet,” 37, of Newark, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, as well as possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.
The verdict followed a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court. Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2026.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Alectus was a member of a drug trafficking organization that maintained a significant presence in New Jersey.
On January 27, 2022, he met with co-conspirator Heidy Valdez at his apartment in Elizabeth, where investigators said the organization was storing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine.
Authorities said Valdez loaded approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine into Alectus’ vehicle, and the pair transported the narcotics to an apartment in Linden.
After arriving, Valdez carried the cocaine inside while Alectus left to purchase packaging materials.
When he returned, prosecutors said the two repackaged the cocaine to resemble fake kilogram bricks they had previously created.
They later left the apartment with approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine and nine counterfeit kilogram packages divided between their vehicles.
Law enforcement stopped the operation shortly afterward, seizing the cocaine from both vehicles.
A subsequent search of the Linden apartment uncovered a hydraulic kilogram press, narcotics packaging materials, a digital scale, and kilogram stamps commonly used in large-scale drug distribution.
Alectus faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on each conviction. He also faces fines of up to $10 million per count.