Essex County Man Convicted of Narcotics Trafficking Offenses Following Trial

NEWARK, N.J. - An Essex County, N.J., man was convicted yesterday by a federal jury for his involvement in a significant drug trafficking organization operating in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Samuel Alectus, a/k/a "Capet," 37, of Newark, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine following a jury trial that began on July 13, 2026 before United States District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court. Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2026.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

Alectus was a member of a drug trafficking organization that had a significant presence in New Jersey. On January 27, 2022, Alectus met up with Heidy Valdez at his apartment in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where the drug trafficking organization was storing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine. Valdez put approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine from that stash into Alectus' car, which Alectus drove to another apartment in Linden, New Jersey. Valdez then carried the cocaine into the Linden apartment, while Alectus left to purchase narcotics packaging materials. When Alectus returned to the Linden apartment, he and Valdez repackaged the cocaine to make it look similar to fake kilograms of cocaine they had created. When Alectus and Valdez left, they put bags containing approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine and approximately 9 fake kilograms into their vehicles. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement seized bags containing kilograms of cocaine from Alectus' car and from Valdez. Law enforcement then searched the Linden apartment, where they found a large hydraulic kilogram press, narcotics packaging materials, a digital scale, and kilogram stamps.

For each offense of conviction, Alectus faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of 10 years' imprisonment, and a fine of up to $10 million.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation leading to the conviction.

The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Marko Pesce, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Jake Nussbaum, of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Robert J. DeGroot and Oleg Nekritin, Esqs.