Fitchburg Man Sentenced for Cocaine Conspiracy

BOSTON – A Fitchburg man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy.

Angel Cruz, a/k/a “Papo,” 62, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 50 months in prison and four years of supervised release. On Oct. 18, 2021, Cruz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

In October 2016, Cruz dispatched a co-conspirator to deliver drug proceeds to a second co-conspirator in California. In exchange for the proceeds, Cruz orchestrated the delivery of nearly one kilogram of cocaine back to Fitchburg. Cruz rented a vehicle and provided cash to his co-conspirator for the trip. When returning to Fitchburg, law enforcement stopped Cruz’s co-conspirator in Ohio and found the cocaine concealed inside the rented vehicle. Phone records revealed that, prior to the stop, Cruz was in constant communication with his co-conspirator to make sure he was returning with cocaine.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest F. Martineau; Lunenburg Police Chief Thomas Gammel; and Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol made the announcement. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division and the Merrimack (N.H.) and Concord (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mulcahy of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.