Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 30-year-old Joseph Cruz-Ocasio of Buffalo pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to four counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. These charges were the highest in the indictment against the defendant.

On four occasions between April 20, 2017 through April 27, 2017, the defendant sold heroin to an undercover officer.

On May 1, 2017, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence on Crowley Avenue in the City of Buffalo. During the search, officers found 30 envelopes of heroin in the defendant’s pocket. Investigators found a large bag of heroin, packaging materials and a scale inside the home.

Another search warrant was executed at a second residence on Argus Street in the City of Buffalo on June 28, 2017. Inside the home, investigators found a large bag of crack cocaine, a smaller bag of heroin, packaging material and a scale.

Cruz-Ocasio, a prior felon, faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, August 8 at 9:30 a.m.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of the New York State Police and the Buffalo Police Department.

Paul J. Williams, III, Chief of the DA’s Narcotics Bureau, prosecuted the case.