Baltimore Felon Sentenced To 90 Months In Federal Prison For A Fentanyl And Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy And For Illegal Possession Of A Firearm

Neighbors Reported to Police that the Defendant Sold Drugs from her Residence

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Porsche Anna Cruz, a/k/a Bridget Annette Barnes, Anna de la Cruz, and Ana Cruz, age 45, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 90 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. 

Her son and co-defendant Chardon Angel Cruz, a/k/a Webbie, age 26, also of Baltimore, was sentenced on July 19, 2019, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine.

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to their plea agreements, neighbors living near the defendants’ home in the 2400 block of Washington Boulevard complained to Baltimore Police that the Cruzes sold drugs at the residence.  Porsche Cruz admitted that from May through June 2018, she conspired with others to distribute 270 grams of fentanyl—enough to kill 135,000 people, and more than one kilogram of cocaine in Baltimore.  Chardon Cruz assisted his mother with distributing narcotics and collecting drug proceeds.

On May 25, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Cruzes’ residence and recovered a loaded shotgun, a loaded pistol, three rifles, an additional shot gun, a box of 12 gauge shotgun shells, and other loose ammunition.  On May 25 and June 12, 2018, they recovered a total of 52 plastic twist bags containing 2.16 grams of cocaine and 243 gel caps containing 23.49 grams of fentanyl at the Cruzes’ residence, pursuant to search and seizure warrants.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Samika N. Boyd, who prosecuted the case.