A drug dealer who used a hidden compartment in a vehicle to ship heroin to Union County from California has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
William T. Bouza, 45, of Watchung, arranged for the drugs to be stashed in a “trap” on a Mercedes being transported to New Jersey on a car carrier in February 2019, federal officials said.
Bouza was in Union County to take delivery of the drugs, but apparently sensed the presence of police and left the area, authorities said.
Authorities seized about 33 pounds of heroin concealed in the car.
Bouza continued selling drugs over the ensuing months, using stash houses as authorities monitored his phones and vehicles, officials said.
Federal law enforcement officers nearly took Bouza into custody on Oct. 29, 2019, when he was seen leaving a location in Irvington carrying a large, weighted bag, authorities said. Minutes later when officers attempted to pull him over, Bouza ignored police lights and sirens, driving 70 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to court documents.
Bouza tossed drugs out of his car and escaped by abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot, authorities said. Police set up a perimeter, but couldn’t find Bouza. He was arrested Nov. 5, 2019, at the Newark home of an acquaintance, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said at the time.
Investigators later discovered more than 1,000 bricks of heroin, each containing approximately 50 individual doses, in one of Bouza’s stash houses. In total, law enforcement seized nearly 40 pounds of heroin.
He pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
In addition to the prison sentence, Bouza was fined $25,000 and will be subject to five years of supervised released after being released. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the punishment in a Friday press release.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
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