⏱ 3 min read
A notorious Puerto Rico cocaine dealer got 15 years in the slammer for running a massive narcotics operation that peddled cocaine, crack, fentanyl, marijuana, and heroin. Carlos Manuel Cotto-Cruz was collared back in 2021 after a 6-month manhunt.
On May 7, 2021, PR police found Cotto-Cruz hiding in Orocovis, Puerto Rico. Agents discovered a stash of narcotics worth thousands of dollars, including heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. They also found tools of the trade: vacuum sealing machines, a cash counter, and bags of all sizes.
At trial, prosecutors presented a slew of witnesses to make the case against Cotto-Cruz. A jury found him guilty in March 2025, and the judge handed down the sentence last month.
Cotto-Cruz’s sentence will run concurrently with local murder charges and a 24-month stint for violating his federal supervised release.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to combat organized crime and drug trafficking.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Puerto Rico
- Location: PR
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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