Couple Sentenced In U.S. District Court

          ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Defendant John A. Cruz, age 47, and Defendant Mae Tedtaotao Cruz, age 45, husband and wife, and residents of Yona, were sentenced on March 6, 2014, by Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, in the District Court of Guam.  John A. Cruz received 78 months for his conviction of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and an additional five years for using, carrying or possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.  The five years are consecutive to the conspiracy charge.   John A. Cruz was assessed a $200 special assessment fee, 400 hours community service and five years supervised release.  Mae Tedtaitao Cruz was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment on the conspiracy charge, 400 hours community service, a $100 special assessment fee and five years supervised release.
           
On October 27, 2011, postal inspectors intercepted an Express Mail package and searched it pursuant to a federal search warrant; the package contained 86 grams of 91.1% pure ice.  Agents secured a warrant to search the defendants’ residence, where they were arrested.  Agents seized, among other things, $38,000 cash, five firearms (all registered); a Toyota Forerunner, an FJ Cruiser and two all-terrain vehicles. They later seized a Lexus SUV.  All these items have been forfeited.

This case was investigated by special agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and officers from the Guam Police Department and  Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde Lemons.