A city man has pleaded guilty to manufacturing thousands of heroin pills at his residence on Wednesday, according to U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.
Juan Vidal, 33, pleaded guilty before judge William H. Walls in Newark, to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of substance containing heroin.
Vidal manufactured pills containing heroin at his home that looked like Percocet pills. He used a press to make the pills. A second person, Karen Rojas, allegedly sold the pills for $5 each.
From February to April 2018, Vidal produced and Rojas sold thousands of pills. For example, on April 18, a cooperating witness asked Rojas for 100-150 heroin pills.
Rojas sold 40 for $200 and said Vidal needed to “get supplies,” buy more heroin to produce more pills.
Authorities previously charged Vidal and Rojas with conspiracy to distribute drugs.
Vidal faces 5-40 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2018, authorities said.