Mableton Man Faces Federal Charges After 60 Pounds of Fentanyl Found
ATLANTA, Georgia – A 32-year-old Mableton man is facing federal fentanyl charges after agents said they found nearly 60 pounds of the drug in a backyard shed in Austell.
Michael Antonio Cruz was arraigned Thursday in federal court in Atlanta on an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. A judge ordered him held in U.S. Marshals Service custody while the case moves forward.
What agents say they found
Federal agents working a narcotics investigation served search warrants at three residences on September 30, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Cruz owns the three homes.
In Austell, agents searched a backyard shed and found nearly 60 pounds of fentanyl pressed into 26 individually wrapped bricks. Each brick carried stamped markings on its sides.
At the Mableton home, agents found multiple scales, buckets of a cutting agent commonly used with methamphetamine and cocaine, and plastic bins with methamphetamine residue. They also found vacuum sealing machines and vacuum sealing packages.
Agents also found a false vent that opened into a void in the wall. Inside, they recovered more than $74,000 in cash.
Officials comment
A federal grand jury returned the indictment on November 3.
“The staggering quantity of fentanyl Cruz allegedly possessed posed a critical threat to public health and safety. But for the intervention of law enforcement, the fentanyl could have reached the streets and had potentially fatal consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute the criminals who deal this poison in our community.”
Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, also commented on the case.
“Fentanyl continues to devastate families and communities across this country. The alleged trafficking of 60 pounds of this deadly substance underscores the magnitude of the threat we face. DEA will continue to pursue those responsible for putting profits over human lives. Our mission remains dedicated to protecting our communities, preventing drug trafficking, and working toward a Fentanyl Free America.”
Investigation and prosecution
The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case. The Cobb County Police Department, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Robinson Jr. is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Cruz is presumed innocent, and the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
