WEST HARTFORD, CT — A West Hartford man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to distributing fentanyl and heroin, as well as illegally possessing firearms, federal prosecutors said.
Matthew Cruz, 36, waived indictment and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin and other controlled substances, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Members of the FBI's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force made a series of controlled narcotics purchases from Cruz in February and March 2025, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
A court-authorized search of Cruz's Newington Road residence on March 27, 2025, found thousands of packaged bags of fentanyl and loose fentanyl totaling more than 600 grams, authorities said. Investigators also seized about 184 grams of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, drug-processing and packaging materials, six firearms, ammunition, gun magazines and nearly $14,000 in cash.
Federal prosecutors said Cruz has multiple prior felony convictions for state drug offenses, making it illegal for him to possess firearms.
He faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison at sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 29. Cruz has been detained since his arrest.
The FBI task force, Hartford Police Department and West Hartford Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham is prosecuting it.
For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.
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