Springfield Man Gets 3 Years for Crack Cocaine Distribution

A Springfield man is headed to prison for his role in distributing crack cocaine in the city.

Andrew Cruz, 26, was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni for distributing crack cocaine.

Cruz pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on June 15, 2016. He has been in custody since his arrest.

The evidence against Cruz showed that he sold a cooperating witness cocaine base, also known as crack, on two occasions in July 2015.

Cruz is also facing charges in the District of Vermont for firearms and drug offenses. He faces two five-year mandatory minimum sentences, to be imposed consecutively, for distributing more than 28 grams of cocaine base, cocaine, and oxycodone – while possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun – and distributing heroin and cocaine base on two more occasions.

The sentence imposed today will be served concurrent to whatever sentence is imposed in the pending cases in the District of Vermont.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and other law enforcement officials praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Newhouse, who prosecuted the case.