Mexican National Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution and Illegal Firearm Possession

TRENTON, N.J. - A Mexican man was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and illegal firearm possession, United States Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Hector Riano-Corcuera, 34, a citizen and national of Mexico, living in East Brunswick, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on May 19 before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi on January 8, 2026 to a two-count Information charging him with distribution of controlled substances and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge Quraishi imposed the 120-month sentence on May 19, 2026 in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In June 2025, law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Riano-Corcuera after he sold approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine to another person. Before the arrest, Riano-Corcuera ran away from the officers. When they caught him, they found a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm firearm in his bag. When they executed a search warrant at Riano-Corcuera's home, law enforcement found more cocaine, two semiautomatic rifles, three handguns, and ammunition.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Riano-Corcuera to five years of supervised release following Riano-Corcuera's term of imprisonment and ordered forfeiture of firearm and ammunition that Riano-Corcuera used to commit the offense.

United States Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation leading to the sentence. U.S. Attorney Frazer also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge­­­­ Stefanie Roddy, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Linda Estremera, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Bradley D. Billhimer, the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Police Director John B. Hayes, the East Brunswick Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Frank LoSacco, the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer, the Manchester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Antonio Ellis, the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber, the Neptune Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Anthony Gualario, the Ocean Gate Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Kuchta, and the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Philip Corbisiero, for their assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

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Defense counsel: Andrea Aldana, Esq., Federal Public Defenders.