New Bedford man sentenced for role in fentanyl trafficking organization

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — A New Bedford man was sentenced Tuesday in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking organization in Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

According to court documents, 42-year-old Jason Cruz was sentenced to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl back in May.

Officials said between April 2022 and June of that year, Cruz purchased fentanyl from the drug trafficking organization that he would then redistribute to others in areas including Cape Cod, Taunton and New Bedford.

CCTV and intercepted conversations showed Cruz’s involvement in purchasing fentanyl from the organization, including visiting with many known organization members.

Members of the drug trafficking organization made transactions with regular customers, often in public, including in the diaper aisle of a store and in supermarket parking lots, according to authorities.

Investigators also said that drugs were transported in cereal boxes while accompanied by a child, at least once.

500 grams of suspected fentanyl was seized during the investigation through controlled purchases and drug seizures, investigators stated.