. . . faces up to 55 years jail time, if convicted
A 57-year-old Guyanese national, who is in the United States illegally, was on Wednesday indicted by a federal grand jury.
Augustine De Cruz was arrested by state police at Wyoming in February on drug and firearm offences and charged by the federal grand jury on charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possessing a firearm while trafficking illegal drugs and illegal possession of a firearm, an article in The Times Leadership newspaper in Pennsylvania, stated. State police searched De Cruz’s residence in the 800 block of North Pennsylvania Avenue on Feb. 10, finding packaged bags of crack cocaine inside a flashlight and rolled up socks, and three firearms, including a handgun reportedly stolen in Dallas Township, according to arrest records.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Pennsylvania said De Cruz had planned to distribute the cocaine hydrochloride, as well as the 28 grams of cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, in Wilkes-Barre.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and Pennsylvania State Police, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian G. McDonnell.
If convicted, DeCruz could face imprisonment for up to 55 years and fines of more than $750,000.