Three Men Indicted on First-Degree Drug Charges in Hudson County

Three men were indicted on first-degree drug charges Friday after the New Jersey State Police seized nearly one pound of methamphetamine in Hudson County last year, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said.

Juan Perez-Nunez, 46, of Bronx, NY, Juan Guerrero-Estrada, 30, of Olathe, KS, and Juan Flores-Santos, 37, of Kansas City, KS, were charged with second-degree conspiracy, first-degree possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and third-degree possession of methamphetamine, Hoffman said. Guerrero-Estrada and Flores-Santos also are charged with first-degree distribution of methamphetamine.

The men were arrested on Oct. 22, 2014, when Perez-Nunez met Guerrero-Estrada and Flores-Santos in the parking lot of a Walmart in Kearny while members of the New Jersey State Police Trafficking North Unit were conducting surveillance at the site.

Authorities spotted a Mercedes Benz with a Kansas license plate, which was occupied by Guerrero-Estrada and Flores-Santos, that was parked in a remote area of the parking lot. The Mercedes then slowly circled the parking lot and parked where Perez-Nunez arrived in a Honda Civic.

“The drivers spoke outside their cars, with the trunk of the Mercedes open, and Perez-Nunez repositioned the Honda, after which he allegedly pulled the Honda alongside the passenger side of the Mercedes,” Hoffman said. “At that point, a red and white plastic bag allegedly was tossed from the Mercedes into the rear window of the Honda.”

State troopers stopped the vehicles as they were departing and found a red-and-white plastic bag containing nearly 16 ounces of crystal methamphetamine after Perez-Nunez consented to a search of the Honda, resulting in the arrest of the three men.

According to Hoffman, the first-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $300,000, while the second-degree charge carries a sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The third-degree charge carries a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $35,000.

The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Hudson County. The men are being held in the Hudson County Jail with bail set at $175,000 for Perez-Nunez and $300,000 each for Guerrero-Estrada and Flores-Santos.