Pennsylvania man sentenced for possession of more than 500 grams of cocaine

PHILADELPHIA — A man from Reading, Pa., was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison for drug possession and his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He pleaded guilty to the charge in August 2009 following an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to court documents, Haroll Meregildo, 34, received a package containing cocaine, shipped to him from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

HSI special agents executed a controlled delivery of the mail parcel seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that contained the cocaine. HSI special agents subsequently arrested Meregildo.

Co-conspirator Cesar Abreu, a U.S. lawful permanent resident born in the Dominican Republic, was sentenced in April 2011 to nearly four years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the conspiracy.

"HSI is determined to stop the illegal movement of drugs across our nation's borders," said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge of HSI in Philadelphia. "We will not allow our communities to be threatened by these criminals who are only motivated by greed."

In addition to the prison term, Meregildo will serve four years of supervised release and pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.