Two Scranton brothers face felony charges after a joint law enforcement investigation allegedly uncovered more than 200 grams of suspected cocaine, a handgun with obliterated serial numbers and more than $10,000 in cash.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher announced the arrests of Jeremy J. Cruz, 38, and Nelson Thomas Cruz, 19, both of Scranton, in a Nov. 11 news release. The arrests followed an investigation and searches at two Scranton residences on Nov. 10, according to the DA’s office.
Investigators allege Jeremy Cruz sold cocaine during a controlled purchase and was subsequently taken into custody. According to the criminal complaint, a confidential informant arranged to buy cocaine from Cruz. The informant contacted Cruz by phone and arranged to meet near Luzerne Street and North Main Avenue, The Times-Tribune reported.
Investigators provided the informant with recorded money and followed him to the meeting. After the informant indicated the purchase had been completed, officers arrested Cruz, according to the complaint details reported by The Times-Tribune.
The DA’s office said a search of Cruz’s South Ninth Avenue residence turned up more than 200 grams of suspected cocaine, cash, a digital scale and drug paraphernalia. FOX56 reported, citing the criminal complaint, that the suspected cocaine later tested positive in a field test.
During the same investigation, officers searched a Tenth Avenue residence and found a Ruger 9mm handgun with obliterated serial numbers between mattresses in Nelson Cruz’s bedroom, according to the DA’s office. The firearm’s magazine contained ammunition, but there was no round in the chamber, FOX56 reported.
Nelson Cruz told investigators he purchased the firearm while living in New York and knew its serial numbers had been obliterated when he bought it, according to the complaint cited by FOX56.
Jeremy Cruz faces two felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility, and two misdemeanor counts each of controlled-substance possession and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the DA’s office.
Nelson Cruz faces one second-degree felony count of possession of a firearm with an altered manufacturer’s number.
Both men were arraigned Wednesday, Nov. 11, The Times-Tribune reported.
Gallagher credited the Pennsylvania State Police Troop R Vice Unit, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office Drug Unit, the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force, the Scranton Police Department Street Crimes Unit, the Blakely Police Department, the Throop Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for their work on the investigation.
The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
