California Resident Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

NEWARK, N.J. - A California resident was sentenced to 100 months in prison for possessing fentanyl for distribution, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Timothy Alan Blank, 55, of Los Angeles, California, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

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

On March 6, 2024, Blank, transported approximately five kilograms of fentanyl in his personal vehicle from the Los Angeles, California area across the United States into the District of New Jersey. On March 8, 2024, Blank's vehicle was stopped by law enforcement agents in Fort Lee, New Jersey when agents discovered the five kilograms of fentanyl inside the trunk area of the vehicle. Following his arrest, Blank admitted to law enforcement agents his intent to distribute the fentanyl inside of the District of New Jersey.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Padin sentenced Blank to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alina Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, the Fort Lee Police Department, and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, with the investigation that led to the sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent D. Romano of the Criminal Division in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Claressa L. Lowe