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Carlos Mosquea-Diaz, 36, was arrested in the parking lot of the Modern in October by DEA agents who found a wine box filled with $130,000 in drug money in the trunk of his car, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said Thursday.
In a trash room on the 42nd floor, agents found nearly 23 pounds of heroin and fentanyl, the U.S. attorney said.
On the same floor, in a penthouse apartment sublet by 36-year-old Richard Fernandez, they found a loaded handgun and several thousand dollars, “as well as numerous ledgers, money counters, cutting agents, and other drug distribution and packaging paraphernalia,” Carpenito said.
At 47 floors, the Modern 1 and 2 twin high-rises are Fort Lee's tallest buildings.
Both Mosquea-Diaz and Richard Fernandez are charged with conspiracy and drug possession in an indictment returned by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Newark.
Fernandez is also charged with possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
They remained in federal custody, authorities said.
Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration with the investigation.
Handling the case for the government is Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy of Carpenito’s Criminal Division in Newark.
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