NEWARK, NJ – Five men were sentenced today for their roles in a conspiracy to transport over $1.3 million worth of stolen perfume products out of New Jersey to Florida, US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Carlos Duvergel, 58, of Miami Gardens, Florida, was sentenced to 33 months in prison. Four defenders residing in Hialeah, Florida, were also sentenced: Juan Crespo, 46, was sentenced to 37 months in prison; Felix Castillo, 49, was sentenced to 33 months in prison; Asnay Fernandez, 32, was sentenced to 33 months in prison; and Ismael Manzano-Suarez, 25, was sentenced to 33 months in prison. The defenders were previously convicted at trial before Judge Peter with G. Sheridan conspiring to transport stolen property in interstate commerce and transportation of stolen property in interstate commerce. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentences today in Trenton federal court.

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

In November 2017, the defenders broke into a warehouse storing perfume products in Edison, New Jersey, and drove away with two tractor trailers filled with stolen perfume products. The value of the stolen perfume products was over $1.3 million. The defenders in May arrest 2018 while attempting to break into another perfume warehouse in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced each defender to three years of supervised release and were ordered to pay total restitution of $1.36 million.

US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings. He also thanked the Edison Police Department, the East Brunswick Police Department, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, for their assistance with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant US Attorney Christopher D. Amore of the National Security Unit and Special Assistant US Attorney Timothy P. Shaughnessy of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.