Somerset, NJ, Man Pleads Guilty After 4 Drug-related Deaths

A guilty plea has been entered in a deadly drug case
Federal prosecutors say four people died after receiving fentanyl
The man responsible now faces a lengthy prison sentence

North Jersey Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

A North Jersey man has admitted to distributing fentanyl and cocaine that resulted in the deaths of four people in the summer of 2022.

On Wednesday in Trenton federal court, 52-year-old Mauricio Gutierrez of Somerset pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

READ MORE: Atlantic City, NJ, Man Admits Running Drug Operation From His Apartment

Timeline of the Case

Federal authorities say on the evening of June 22nd, 2022, Gutierrez distributed fentanyl on two separate occasions from his home in Somerset, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals, who have not been identified.

At that time, officials offered the following account:

The first individual to whom Gutierrez distributed fentanyl used it, along with two other individuals. Shortly thereafter the three victims were located in a vehicle that was parked outside an establishment in North Brunswick, New Jersey, and all three were unresponsive. Two victims were pronounced dead and the third victim died two days later. Law enforcement located a white powder, which was determined to contain fentanyl, inside the vehicle.

In a separate transaction, Gutierrez distributed fentanyl to another person, who was later located in Franklin Township. That person was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement located a white powder, which was determined to contain fentanyl, inside the vehicle.

John Roman