Harrisburg Man Involved In Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To 120 Months Imprisonment
HARRISBURG, Pa. - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Cruz, 32, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to 120 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release for distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Conner further ordered Cruz to pay a $1,100 fine.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, as a result of continuous efforts by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Dauphin County Drug Task Force the investigation identified cocaine and heroin drug trafficking organizations, which included Cruz and 18 other defendants who were indicted in April 2012.
Investigators found that Cruz was a distributor for a known drug trafficking organization in Harrisburg that used couriers who traveled between Harrisburg and the Boston metropolitan area where the drugs were obtained. Upon returning to Harrisburg, the drugs were repackaged for distribution throughout the area including Cruz’s cousin’s business, D&M Contracting.
Cruz pleaded guilty in December 2012 to distributing at least 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride.
Of the remaining 18 defendants, Fremo Santana; Zenaida Arroyo; Eduardo Martinez; Ramon Serrano-Aponte; Angel Cruz; Jorge San Miguel; Jerome Brunson; Heidi Fisher; Eddie Carlo Rodriguez-Melendez; Angel DeJesus; and Richard Eugene Sims are awaiting trial scheduled for August 2013.
Crystal Dee Brunson, Thomas Davenport, Dwayne Lamont Harmon, Edwin Puglia and Harry Ortiz have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Luis Lopez-Melendez and Ralph David Howell remain fugitives.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lebanon County Drug Task Force and the Dauphin County Drug Task Force. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
