NYC Man will spend 10-years behind bars for trafficking heroin and cocaine into Lewis County

SYRACUSE, NY- A man from New York City was faced with his sentencing in court Monday for trafficking drugs to the North Country.

When Chief U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby slammed the gavel down, it signaled 10-years behind bars for Shakespeare Cruz, 48.

He originally pleaded guilty to his charges for smuggling and distributing multiple kilograms of cocaine and heroin to Lewis County from 2014 through January, 2019.

This development is according to the United States Attorney’s Office – Northern District of New York.

Cruz told the court that he and his co-conspirators arranged a blueprint for the drugs to be brought up from New York City, where they were hashed out to buyers.

Upon release from prison, Cruz will have to serve a 5-year term of supervision. The court also ordered him to pay a forfeiture judgment in the amount of $200,000, representing the proceeds from his drug smuggling.