Daniel Ruiz, Trafficking, Vermont 2022

A 35-year-old Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 140 months in prison for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking operation in Vermont.

Daniel Ruiz, also known as 'P-Nut,' was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford on [today] in Burlington, Vermont, following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base.

Ruiz was arrested on March 23, 2022, after a search warrant was executed at the Highlander Motel in Rutland, Vermont. He fled out the bathroom window of Room 15, but was apprehended shortly thereafter. Inside the room, law enforcement found approximately 37 grams of cocaine base, 168 bags of fentanyl, over $5,000 in cash, and a Glock 9mm handgun.

According to court records, Ruiz was a supervisor and manager of the drug trafficking operation, which operated out of the Highlander Motel from January 2022 until his arrest. Ruiz's criminal conduct involved the trafficking of at least 200 grams of cocaine and 80 grams of fentanyl, with Ruiz making up to $1,000 a day in profits from the sale of controlled substances.

Ruiz also managed and supervised the drug trafficking activities of a 17-year-old juvenile, whom he recruited into the group. The juvenile made deliveries of cocaine base and fentanyl to purchasing customers, paying the juvenile in both cash and marijuana.

Ruiz has a prior federal conviction in the District of Massachusetts for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, as well as a conviction in Massachusetts state court for possession with intent to distribute heroin. These two convictions made Ruiz a career offender under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/pr/drug-trafficker-enlisted-juvenile-drug-trafficking-operation-sentenced-140-months-prison