A man from Rochester, New York, was sentenced to 54 months in prison after being convicted of selling counterfeit Xanax on the dark web. John Cruz, 31, admitted to purchasing counterfeit Xanax pills from dark web sources and reselling them between October 2019 and May 2021. Cruz's activities continued even after he was indicted in 2023, with the defendant operating a darknet website where he offered a variety of counterfeit pills for sale.
Details of the Charges and Sentencing
Cruz pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to misbrand drugs, introduce misbranded drugs, and sell counterfeit drugs on two occasions—once in November 2023 and again in July 2024. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Audrey G. Fleissig, who expressed concern about the potential harm Cruz’s actions posed to consumers. "I hope you understand that you put people’s lives at risk," Judge Fleissig told Cruz during the sentencing hearing.
Cruz’s illegal operation was tracked by authorities after investigators discovered his role in distributing counterfeit Xanax, a medication typically prescribed for anxiety disorders. Cruz continued these activities even after his guilty plea, further contributing to the criminal case against him. He was also found to have used cryptocurrency, specifically Monero, to facilitate transactions for his illegal sales. As a result, $145,502 in Monero was seized by law enforcement from Cruz’s account, representing the proceeds from his operations. Cruz has agreed to forfeit these funds.
Investigation and Legal Actions
The case was investigated by multiple federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These agencies worked together to trace Cruz’s activities on the dark web and to gather evidence leading to his conviction. Cruz’s continued involvement in selling counterfeit pills while out on bond was cited by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware as an indication of Cruz’s lack of remorse and disregard for the law.
The investigation also revealed Cruz’s use of the U.S. Postal Service to facilitate the distribution of the counterfeit drugs, a factor which brought the U.S. Postal Inspection Service into the case. Cruz was found to have used various shipping methods to deliver the fake Xanax pills to buyers across the United States.
Legal Outcome and Consequences
As part of his sentence, Cruz will serve 54 months in federal prison. In addition, he has been required to forfeit the cryptocurrency proceeds from his illegal transactions. The case is part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the distribution of counterfeit drugs through darknet marketplaces, which have become an increasingly popular method for illicit drug sales in recent years.
The sentencing reflects the seriousness with which the U.S. legal system treats the distribution of counterfeit medications and the use of dark web platforms for illegal commerce. Cruz’s case is one of many in which individuals have been prosecuted for engaging in the sale of misbranded or counterfeit drugs via online channels.
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