- £2m Drug Bust in Van to Northern Ireland - August 16, 2023
- 112 Pounds of Fentanyl are Found in California Close to the Border - August 16, 2023
- Unsettling Messages Reveal a Gang Boasting of Bringing in £1 Million Worth of Narcotics to a Coastal Resort - August 16, 2023
Jason Cruz Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy
Jason Cruz, 42, has admitted guilt to counts of conspiring to distribute and having fentanyl in his possession with the purpose of selling it. Judge Allison D. Burroughs of the US District Court has set the sentence for July 25th, 2023. Cruz has been detained ever since a federal grand jury arrested him in August 2022.
Cruz purchased fentanyl from a DTO between April 2022 and June 2022, selling it to others. Observed conversations show Cruz talking about buying fentanyl from the DTO. Other DTO members were seen passing by Cruz’s house briefly on video surveillance, which is consistent with illicit drug trafficking operations.
Conspiracy charges involving fentanyl entail a maximum punishment of 20 years in jail, a mandatory minimum of three years, and a potential life sentence with supervised release. A $1 million fine is also included in the allegations. A federal district court judge will decide on the appropriate sentence based on the relevant statutes and US Sentencing Guidelines.
The statement was released on May 12th by US Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and other officials. Various organizations, including the Massachusetts State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and others, provided significant assistance. Rollins’ Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit Assistant US Attorney is in charge of the prosecution.
This initiative is a part of the OCDETF, which employs a multi-agency, prosecutor-led approach to find, disrupt, and eliminate the most harmful criminal organizations that threaten the United States.