Illegal Alien Associated with Mexican Cartel Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

NEWARK, N.J. - A Mexican national admitted to a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.

Oscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman, 55, a Mexican national and most recently of Kansas, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jamel K. Semper in Newark federal court to a one-count Indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Two other defendants charged in the drug distribution conspiracy, Jose Manuel Amaya Villarreal and Reymond Alex Avina Samaniego, both of California, previously entered guilty pleas before Judge Semper to separate Informations charging them with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Villarreal was sentenced to 57 months' imprisonment on August 7, 2026; sentencing for Samaniego is scheduled for November 9, 2026.

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

Pelayo-Guzman is associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel operating in Mexico and a principal member of a Kansas City-based drug trafficking organization involved in the international and interstate transportation and distribution of narcotics. Beginning in January 2025, Pelayo-Guzman and his co-conspirators conspired to transport large quantities of cocaine to New Jersey. Specifically, Pelayo-Guzman traveled to New Jersey in April 2025 and arranged for a shipment of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine to be delivered to Newark, New Jersey from California via a truck driven by Villarreal and Samaniego. After delivering the approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine in exchange for over $300,000 in cash, law enforcement officers arrested Villarreal and Samaniego. Pelayo-Guzman was arrested shortly afterwards.

The cocaine conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentencing is scheduled for March 1, 2027.

U.S. 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 guilty plea. He also thanked 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 in Newark; 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 Newark Department of Public Safety, Newark Police Division, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda; the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber; the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer; 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.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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:

Oscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman: Adalgiza A. Núñez, Esq., Office of the Federal Public Defender

Jose Manuel Amaya Villarreal: Perry Primavera, Esq.

Reymond Alex Avina Samaniego: Joseph D. Rotella, Esq.