United States of America v. Samuel Alectus, a/k/a “Capet”

Newark, New Jersey, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with operating a drug trafficking organization.

Reported by: Kent Morlan

Samuel Alectus, a/k/a “Capet,” 37, of Newark, 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.

The Defendant was found guilty by a jury. Alectus faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $10 million.