United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for drug trafficking offenses involving fentanyl.

David Cruz, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 23, 2022, Cruz pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

In January 2021, Cruz sold 9,816 bags of fentanyl laced heroin, with a total weight of 120 grams, to a cooperating witness. In March 2021, a total of 55,703 bags – with a combined weight of 600 grams – of fentanyl laced heroin was seized from Cruz.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Holyoke Police Department, and  the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Rollins’ Springfield Office prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.