Press Release
☷Waterbury Woman Receives Prison Time for Role in Drug Ring
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ( By Press Release office)
Mar 28,2024
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Vanessa Roberts Avery , the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut , announced today that MICHELLE CRUZ , a 38 - year - old from Waterbury , has been sentenced to 15 months in prison , followed by three years of supervised release , by U . S . District Judge Alvin W . Thompson in Hartford . This comes as a result of her involvement in a drug trafficking ring . The investigation , led by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department , focused on drug trafficking in and around Waterbury . It involved wiretaps , surveillance , controlled drug purchases , and vehicle stops that led to the seizure of drugs and cash . The investigation revealed that Jose Duprey , also known as "Red" and "Colorado , " was distributing large quantities of cocaine , heroin , and fentanyl . Duprey used his workplace to supply drugs to other distributors and stored narcotics at his girlfriend ' s business in Middlebury . Cruz was intercepted on a wiretap ordering drugs from Duprey and subsequently distributing them to her customers . Cruz , Duprey , and 12 others were arrested on May 25 , 2022 . During the arrest , approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine , two kilograms of heroin , two kilograms of fentanyl , and over $107 , 000 in cash were found . Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on August 9 , 2023 , and is required to report to prison on May 21 . Duprey has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing . The investigation was carried out by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department , with assistance from other law enforcement agencies . U . S . Attorney Avery expressed gratitude to the Waterbury State ' s Attorney ' s Office for their cooperation in the investigation and prosecution . The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U . S . Attorneys Brendan J . Keefe and Nathaniel J . Gentile through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces ( OCDETF ) Program . OCDETF is all about taking down drug traffickers , money launderers , gangs , and criminal organizations with a team of prosecutors and law enforcement agencies working together . You can learn more about the program at https://www . justice . gov/OCDETF .
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