A Pennsylvania man who spent years evading authorities has finally admitted his role in a major drug trafficking operation that spanned from Connecticut to California.
Israel Mendoza, 44, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine. Mendoza, who used aliases like “D-Nice” and “Israel Mandosa,” was a key supplier in a network that used the U.S. Mail to ship drugs and cash across the country.
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The operation was busted in 2018 when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted packages containing large amounts of cash being sent from Connecticut to California. Further investigation revealed a complex web of connections, with Mendoza supplying cocaine to a Connecticut distributor who then mailed the proceeds back to California.
Investigators seized hundreds of grams of cocaine and fentanyl being shipped through the mail, highlighting the scale of the operation.
Read: Pennsylvania Woman Found Guilty In West Virginia For Heroin And Fentanyl Charge
Mendoza was indicted in 2019 but remained a fugitive until his capture in California in 2023. He now faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in March 2025.
Three other individuals involved in the network – Michael Copeland, Neliobet DeJesus, and Danny Rhodes – previously pleaded guilty and have already been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 30 to 87 months.
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