Humberto Rodriguez-Cruz, 33, was sentenced to 76 months in prison for the distribution of more than five grams of methamphetamine. That sentence is to be served consecutively to a state sentence he is currently serving, followed by five years supervised release.
Rodriguez-Cruz was previously convicted of trafficking in methamphetamine and that term is not expected to run out until July 2014.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on Aug. 8, 2007, Rodriguez-Cruz sold 56 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine to an agent for the government. Rodriguez-Cruz pleaded guilty to the drug distribution charge in July 2008 and was sentenced this week.
This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation entitled “Fire Ants,” which investigated multi-level dealers and importers of Mexican-made meth in eastern North Carolina. Investigators have revealed that the organization has been responsible for the distribution of more than 75 kilograms of meth.
“Even with recent success at the federal, state and local level, in attacking the meth problem we continue to see meth traffickers in the Eastern District,” U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding said in a prepared statement. “Prosecution of these matters is important to our effort as we hold the line against meth traffickers.”
Investigation of the case was conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and Beulaville Police Department.
In the other investigation, a Warsaw man will serve more than three years behind bars for a cocaine distribution conspiracy.
Randy Lee Darden, 40, of Warsaw, was sentenced in federal court to 40 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. He was sentenced along with Brenton Baker, 38, of Philadelphia, Pa., who received 120 months imprisonment, similarly followed by five years supervised release, for the same offense.
A federal grand jury returned criminal indictments against Baker, Darden and a third co-defendant, Bernard Thomas, in October 2008. In December, both Baker and Darden pleaded guilty in the case, the U.S. Attorney said.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced during the June 15 term of court.
According to investigators, Darden contacted an undercover officer to arrange the purchase of “multiple kilograms of powder cocaine.” Following several phone conversations, which were recorded by authorities, an agreement was made for a face-to-face meeting to further negotiate the drug transaction.
On Aug. 15, 2008, Baker and Thomas flew from Philadelphia to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Baker, Darden and Thomas then met in Warsaw with undercover officers, who the defendants believed to be the “sources of cocaine,” investigators said. Once the deal was struck, the men returned to Philadelphia.
Just two days later, on Aug. 17, Baker and Thomas drove back to Warsaw with approximately $120,000 in cash, intending to purchase six kilograms of cocaine, investigators said.
As soon as Baker took possession of the cocaine, furnished by one of the undercover officers, law enforcement officers arrested Baker, Darden and Thomas.
Holding said investigating agencies in the case included DEA authorities in Wilmington and Philadelphia, along with the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Fayetteville, Warsaw, Kenansville and Beulaville.
“It is gratifying to see that the hard work and coordination between law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and North Carolina have come to a satisfactory conclusion,” the U.S. Attorney stated. “These drug traffickers will be off the streets for some time.”
Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.
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