Manchester man sentenced to five years in prison for dealing fentanyl
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIKE CRUZ, also known as Mike Flores and “Mega,” 31, of Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl. Judge Meyer also ordered Cruz to pay a $10,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2020, law enforcement received information that Cruz was distributing large quantities of narcotics from his Manchester apartment. On February 18, 2020, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 50 grams of fentanyl from Cruz.
Cruz was arrested on a federal criminal complaint in Manchester on February 27, 2020. At the time of his arrest he possessed approximately 100 grams of compressed fentanyl. On that date, a search of his vehicle also revealed approximately 2,000 dose bags of fentanyl and other substances, and a search of his residence revealed $29,408 in cash.
In total, Cruz was responsible for distributing or possessing with the intent to distribute approximately 245 grams of fentanyl within a one-month period.
Cruz has been detained since his arrest. On September 23, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Judge Meyer ordered Cruz to forfeit the cash seized on February 27, 2020.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.
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