Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Astorga, who handled the case, stated that on July 18, the United States Postal Inspection Service obtained a federal search warrant for a postal parcel that was addressed to 14 Warren Ave. that was mailed from Canovanas, Puerto Rico. The search revealed that the parcel contained approximately nine ounces of cocaine. The cocaine was removed from the package and replaced with sham cocaine and an electronic transmitter that would alert agents to the opening of the parcel was installed.
On July 20, an undercover U.S. Postal Inspector, acting as a mail carrier, delivered the parcel to Ortiz who signed for it and took it into the residence. Minutes later, the electronic transmitter indicated the parcel had been opened. Agents went into the residence and arrested the defendant.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.
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