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MARTHA COAKLEY

ATTORNEY GENERAL

October 16, 2009 - For immediate release:

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office Announces Convictions, Sentences of Two Men Charged with Dealing Cocaine

BOSTON – Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Suffolk Superior Court jury convicted two men yesterday of distributing and trafficking cocaine in East Boston.  Miguel Cruz, age 50, of East Boston, was found guilty on charges of Distribution of Cocaine (2 counts), School Zone Violation (4 counts), Trafficking in Cocaine over 14 grams, and Trafficking in Cocaine over 100 grams.  Immediately after the guilty verdict was returned, Suffolk Superior Court Justice Regina Quinlan sentenced Cruz to serve 10 years in State prison on the charge of Trafficking in Cocaine over 100 grams.  Cruz was also ordered to serve two and a half years in State Prison on the charges of Distribution of Cocaine and School Zone Violation (3 counts), and three years in State Prison on the charge of Trafficking in Cocaine over 14 grams.  The sentences for the distribution and trafficking charges will run concurrently.  Cruz will being serving the school zone violation sentence upon the completion of the trafficking and distribution sentences.  Upon the completion of his State Prison sentences, Justice Quinlan also ordered that Cruz serve two years in the House of Correction on the remaining count of School Zone Violation.

The jury also convicted Cruz’s co-defendant, Carlos Medina, age 43, of Revere, on the charges of Distribution of Cocaine and School Zone Violation.  Justice Quinlan sentenced Medina to serve one year in the House of Correction on the charge of Distribution of Cocaine.  After the completion of that sentence, Medina must then serve an additional two years in the House of Correction on the charge of School Zone Violation.

In November 2007, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office began an investigation into a cocaine distribution organization operating in the East Boston, Chelsea and Revere areas.  During the course of the investigation, Cruz made four separate drug sales to an undercover Trooper.  Medina was also involved in one of these transactions.  The location of these purchases was within 1,000 feet of a day care center in East Boston.  On March 6, 2008, a Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against both men.  The men were arrested on March 7, 2008, and arraigned on March 10, 2008, in Suffolk Superior Court, where they entered pleas of not guilty.  Cruz was ordered held on $500,000 bail.  Medina was ordered held on $5,000 bail.  The trial of both Cruz and Medina began on October 6, 2009, and lasted five days. The jury deliberated for approximately 12 hours before returning guilty verdicts on October 15, 2009.  Cruz & Medina were sentenced the same day.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Jessica Massey of Attorney General Coakley’s Enterprise and Major Crimes Division, and was investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office.

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