Man Who Tried to Smuggle More Than Four Kilograms of Cocaine From Puerto Rico to Philadelphia Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Jose Alberto Cruz-Garcia, 31, of Las Pedras, Puerto Rico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for attempting to smuggle a significant amount of cocaine into Philadelphia.

On July 21, 2023, Cruz-Garcia departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a commercial flight to Philadelphia, carrying over four kilograms of cocaine in his luggage. Upon arrival, Cruz-Garcia met with codefendant Josue Benito Ascencio-Vega outside a motel near the airport to deliver the drugs, at which time both men were arrested by federal authorities.

The defendant pleaded guilty in May. In July, codefendant Ascencio-Vega was sentenced to five years in prison.

“Whether you’re coming by plane, train, or automobile, if you bring a large quantity of illegal narcotics into the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, be prepared to lose more than your luggage,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners on the community’s behalf, to get dangerous drugs and criminals off the street.”

“The sentencing of Alberto Cruz-Garcia and Josue Benito Ascencio-Vega is the culmination of excellent investigations and prosecutions by HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Sara Bay. “Our partnership continues to provide incredible results for the citizens of Pennsylvania.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everett Witherell.