Juan Paulino busted afterdrugs seized from NYC ‘pill mill’
Federal officials have seized millions of dollars worth of drugs and manufacturing equipment from an Upper Manhattan basement, leading to the arrest of 52-year-old Juan Efren Paulino. Paulino was accused of running a “pill mill” and stashing approximately 200,000 pills along with blocks, baggies, buckets of powder, three commercial-grade pill presses, and one commercial mixer in the Washington Heights building. Preliminary tests reveal that the seized powders contain fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, with further lab testing still pending for the pills and powders.
Paulino, also known as Freddy, was arrested on Wednesday night and has since been charged with conspiracy to distribute and distribute narcotics. Both counts carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Paulino claimed he was in the basement to obtain a cocaine sample for someone else.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III called the “pill mill” a “ticking time bomb for New Yorkers” and said that removing the quantity of fentanyl seized could have potentially saved countless lives. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that the seizure dealt a heavy blow to New York’s drug trafficking operations. The El Dorado Task Force, made up of officers from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the NYPD, worked on the investigation.
FAQs:
What is a pill mill?
A pill mill is an operation in which prescription drugs are dispensed and prescribed without a medical examination or legitimate purpose.
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine and is often mixed with other drugs such as heroin or cocaine.
What happens to Juan Efren Paulino now that he has been arrested?
Paulino has been charged with conspiracy to distribute and distribute narcotics, with both counts carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum sentence of life in prison.
Who worked on the investigation that led to the seizure of the drugs and equipment?
The El Dorado Task Force, which is made up of officers from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the NYPD, worked on the investigation.
‘Pill Mill’ in NYC bags drugs; Juan Paulino apprehended.
A 52-year-old man could face life in prison after being apprehended for operating a “pill mill” in Upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood, according to federal officials. Last week, a raid of the building resulted in the discovery of about 200,000 pills, blocks, baggies and buckets of powder, as well as three commercial-grade pill presses and one commercial mixer that had all been used to manufacture the drugs. The powders tested positive for cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Juan Efren Paulino, also known as Freddy, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution of narcotics. Both charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. DEA officials involved in the investigation stated that the drug operation was a “ticking time bomb for New Yorkers.”