The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 24-year-old Tobyhanna Township man pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr. in Wilkes-Barre to participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine in Monroe and Wayne counties between 2011 and 2014.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, the defendant, Brandon Cruz, admitted to distributing heroin and cocaine on several occasions between 2011 and 2014 in drug transactions that were arranged by other members of his family.Three other Cruz family members Tiffanyann Cruz, Rubie Cruz and Carlos Cruz were charged in the case. Tiffanyann Cruz previously entered a guilty plea to participating in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Rubie Cruz and Carlos Cruz are awaiting trial.Brandon Cruz was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2014 as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Wayne County District Attorney's Office.Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 20 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1 million fine. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Richard P. Conaboy will schedule sentencing at a later date.