Vanessa Velez, 51, and Felix Mendez, 44, from New York pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges for attempting to possess and distribute about 40 kilograms of cocaine. Velez was sentenced to 48 months in prison with five years of supervised release, while Mendez received 18 months and three years of supervised release, and both must forfeit $325,000 each, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Their plan unraveled on October 29, 2024, in a South Philadelphia parking lot, where they exchanged cash for duffel bags they believed contained cocaine. Philadelphia police intercepted them shortly after, discovering the bags contained fake drugs, ending their scheme before it could proceed, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Mendez and Velez were arrested during a traffic stop at 59 E. Oregon Avenue, where police found duffle bags containing fake narcotics. The case was investigated by the DEA and Philadelphia Police through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Diviny. Both defendants have been sentenced, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
