Jaime Castellar,ran a heroin mill in the basement of a rented house in Pennsauken

Jaime Castellar, 32, also was ordered to serve five years of probation after he is released. Castellar was one of several people who ran a heroin mill in the basement of a rented house in Pennsauken in 2005 and 2006. Authorities said the heroin processed there was spiked with fentanyl, a powerful painkiller that intensifies the effects of the heroin and can lead to fatal overdoses.Fentanyl-laced heroin is said to have been responsible for more than 100 deaths in the Philadelphia region in 2006. Though investigators could not determine whether Castellar was the only source of the heroin that caused the overdoses, authorities said fentanyl-related deaths declined sharply after Castellar's arrest in September 2006.At today's sentencing in U.S. District Court in Camden, Castellar apologized to the government and to his family. Several relatives attended the proceedings, including Castellar's 5-year-old son."I apologize for putting them in this situation," Castellar said, putting his hands to his face and appearing to become choked up. "I've learned my lesson. I got my son out there being raised without a father, which is something I've been through."Castellar has said he and at least six others packaged heroin in bulk to sell to other dealers and in smaller bags for street sales.Castellar came to the authorities' attention in July 2006, after a naked man ran from the Union Avenue house, yelling for help and claiming that gunmen had invaded the building. Employees of heroin mills typically work naked to prevent theft.Neighbors called the police, who found blood at the house and signs that heroin was being processed there.Castellar, who has been inprisoned since his arrest, pleaded guilty in April 2007 to conspiring to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. Today, Judge Noel L. Hillman urged Castellar to use his time in prison to rehabilitate himself. <br />"You will still have a chance to be a good father," Hillman said. "You still have a chance to be a positive and meaningful role model to your son and your family after you serve this term."

Jaime Castellar,ran a heroin mill in the basement of a rented house in Pennsauken

Jaime Castellar, 32, also was ordered to serve five years of probation after he is released. Castellar was one of several people who ran a h...

Read more »