New Bedford home invaders sentenced to decades in prison

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — District Attorney Thomas Quinn said two New Bedford men were sentenced to prison for their role in a violent home invasion in 2019.

According to officials, Richard Cruz, 45, and Pedro Velazquez, 42, were both sentenced more than 10 years followed by two years of probation each.

Court documents read that on Aug. 14, 2019, both Cruz and Velazquez broke down a victim’s front door while armed with a gun and masked.

The victim, who was sleeping at the time, was pistol-whipped and had money and their iPhone stolen. The victim later identified Velazquez as the assailant as he had seen him earlier that day when the victim asked him for money.

Surveillance from the victim’s apartment showed both Cruz and Velazquez walking into, and then later fleeing the apartment. Another resident who was outside the apartment complex was also able to identify the two, even when their masks were down.

Richard Cruz was sentenced to serve 18 to 25 years in prison and Pedro Velazquez was sentenced to serve 10 to 15 years.

“This is another example of street violence that too often results in serious injury or death. Both defendants have significant records and needs to be kept off the street for a long time to protect the public,” District Attorney Quinn said.