PEABODY — A 30-year-old New York man who drove to Peabody with drugs in his co-defendant’s vehicle pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to heroin and fentanyl distribution charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
James De La Cruz was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
During September and October of 2019, De La Cruz spoke and met with a cooperating witness to arrange a large drug shipment from New York to the Boston area, prosecutors said.
On Oct. 21, 2019, De La Cruz and his co-defendant, Juan Santos Roque, drove from New York to Peabody with about 10 kilograms of fentanyl and six kilograms of heroin in a hidden compartment in Santos Roque’s vehicle, prosecutors said.
After meeting with the cooperating witness, law enforcement agents arrested De La Cruz and Santos Roque. Santos Roque pleaded guilty in October 2020 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2021, prosecutors said.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million.
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled De La Cruz’s sentencing for Oct. 6, 2021.
