Illinois Men Indicted

HAMMOND – The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that Michael Cruz, age 38 of Algonquin, Illinois and Rigoberto Ortiz-Dominguez, age 32, of Joliet, Illinois were charged by Indictment with possession with intent to deliver more than one kilogram of heroin.

According to documents filed in the case, on November 16, 2017 during a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation, Michael Cruz agreed to direct his courier to deliver multiple kilograms of heroin to a buyer.  When the courier, Ortiz-Dominguez, arrived, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and searched Ortiz-Dominguez’s car.  Agents found and seized 3.6 kilograms of heroin.  Cruz and Ortiz-Dominguez were arrested and have been detained pending trial.

United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II said, “Cooperative partnerships between local, state and federal agencies are essential to reducing the availability of controlled substances in the Northern District of Indiana.”

The United States Attorney’s office emphasizes that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This indictment results from an investigation by the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the DEA with assistance from the Hammond Police Department and the Indiana State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas McGrath.

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