Stratford Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Dealing Cocaine

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RUBEN CRUZ, 30, formerly of Jackson Avenue, Stratford, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in a Bridgeport-based narcotics trafficking ring. On July 2, 2009, CRUZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

This matter stems from “Operation G-Force,” a joint law enforcement investigation into Bridgeport-area narcotics trafficking headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force. The year-long investigation, which led to the federal prosecution of 46 individuals, included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, search warrants, and physical surveillance.

According to court documents and statements made in court, CRUZ was actively involved in distributing cocaine with several members of the conspiracy, and had a profitable business distributing high-quality marijuana. During the period of the conspiracy, CRUZ possessed two firearms in connection with his drug-trafficking activities.

This matter was investigated by members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of federal agents and state and local officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force, and the Bridgeport, Stamford, Stratford, Fairfield, Trumbull and Norwalk Police Departments. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Chen and S. Dave Vatti.