Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christian G. Cruz, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 2, 2022, Rochester Police Officers on patrol observed Cruz standing on the sidewalk and displaying what appeared to be a firearm to another male. After stopping their vehicle and approaching Cruz, the officers observed what appeared to be the outline of firearm in Cruz’s left front shorts pocket. Cruz said he was going to grab his ID and attempted to reach into the pocket. The officers yelled for Cruz not to reach for the gun, at which point the officers grabbed his arms in an attempt to stop him from pulling out the firearm. Cruz continued to reach for the firearm and fought with officers as they were trying to secure him. As Cruz was being secured, he yelled to the officers that they could take the gun out of his shorts pocket. The officers removed a loaded .380 caliber handgun. Officers continued to pat down Cruz and also recovered quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, and suspected fentanyl and heroin.

The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John Devito.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.