Tuesday, March 27, 2012

New Haven Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Cocaine


David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NIBIS DE LA CRUZ, 38, of New Haven, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, DE LA CRUZ is one of 26 individuals charged as a result of an FBI Safe Streets Task Force investigation into a New Haven-area narcotics trafficking organization. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps that recorded defendants on numerous occasions arranging the purchase and distribution of kilograms of cocaine.

Between September and December 2010, DE LA CRUZ was intercepted over a wiretap ordering distribution quantities of cocaine from co-defendant Nicolas Casanova-DeJesus. Law enforcement surveillance officers and agents also saw the two men meet to conclude their drug transactions. During the course of the investigation, DE LA CRUZ purchased at least 237 grams of cocaine from Casanova-DeJesus.

On November 30, 2011, DE LA CRUZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Casanova-DeJesus has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes officers from the Ansonia, Hamden, New Haven, and Milford Police Departments, as well as the State of Connecticut Department of Correction. The West Haven Police Department has also provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

U.S. Attorney Fein also recognized the assistance of the New Haven Police Department’s Tactical Narcotics Unit and its Street Interdiction Unit for their assistance in making the arrests and seizures in this case.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Runowicz.

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