California Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Conspiracy

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Vincente Manuel Ruiz, age 37, of Modesto, California, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam.

The investigation into Ruiz started after agents with the DEA executed a search warrant at an individual’s property in Soso, Mississippi. Agents located 951 grams of heroin at the residence. The investigation revealed that the heroin had been supplied by Ruiz. After the arrest of Ruiz, agents located two cell phones that showed an individual had previously sent packages of money to Ruiz in California. Ruiz pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute heroin from August 2017 through December 13, 2017.

Ruiz will be sentenced by Judge Starrett on July 17, 2018. He faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Ellisville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk is prosecuting the case.