5 Men Arrested in Newark Discussed O.C. Drug Deal

Five Mexican nationals allegedly planning to import 440 pounds of cocaine were arrested in a hotel where they had gathered to discuss payment of a recent drug deal in Santa Ana, authorities said.

The five were arrested Wednesday night near Newark International Airport by the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Maurice L. Hill, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Newark office.

The men, held without bail Thursday, had met in the hotel to discuss payment for an earlier delivery of nearly 200 pounds that had already been made to Santa Ana and the possibility of larger future deliveries, according to court documents,

The 200-pound shipment, delivered Nov. 25, was seized by DEA agents without the defendants’ knowledge.

Carlos Enrique Cervantes DeGortari, 55, of Mexico City was described by some of the other defendants as the source of the drugs, court papers said.

DeGortari allegedly told the agent that he could provide security and import licenses so the cocaine could be transported from Colombia through Mexico to New Jersey without detection.

All were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and ordered held without bail in Union County Jail after an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Stanley R. Chesler. A bail hearing was scheduled to be held Friday.

Also charged were Jesus Esparza Jiminez, 68, of Mexico City; Ramon Pelayo Ruiz, 48, of National City, Calif.; Martha Leticia Ruiz-Charbono, 44, of Guadalajara, Mexico; and Magdelena Pelayo Ruiz, 39, of Mexicali, Mexico.