The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office announced Efrain Ramiro Gonzalez Cruz, 64, of Summerland Key, was sentenced to four years in Florida prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony narcotics offenses stemming from cocaine trafficking and distribution in Monroe County.
Cruz entered guilty pleas resolving six related felony narcotics cases and was adjudicated guilty as charged to offenses including trafficking in cocaine, sale of cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
The charges stem from multiple narcotics investigations conducted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, which utilized undercover detectives and confidential informants to conduct controlled purchases of cocaine from Cruz at his residence on Summerland Key. The investigations documented several transactions in which Cruz sold cocaine directly to undercover investigators and confidential sources. The investigations ultimately led to Cruz’s arrest on Dec. 4, 2024.
County Judge Mark Wilson imposed a sentence of four years in Florida prison followed by 24 months of administrative probation, with 316 days credit for time served. The prison sentence satisfies the three-year minimum mandatory prison term required under Florida law for cocaine trafficking offenses.
Administrative probation is sometimes used when there is a strong likelihood that a defendant may be taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the conclusion of a criminal case. Structuring probation in this manner allows the court’s sentence to remain in place while permitting federal immigration authorities to assume custody and proceed with any immigration enforcement actions.
As part of the sentence, the court imposed a $50,000 trafficking fine. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay a total of $3,338 in court costs and statutory fees, including costs of prosecution, investigation, and defense.
Court records reflect that Cruz has an extensive criminal history. Authorities have also confirmed that the defendant currently has an immigration detainer, commonly referred to as an ICE hold, placed on him. An immigration detainer is a request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement asking that a defendant be held for transfer into federal immigration custody once their criminal sentence is completed. It is highly likely that Cruz will face deportation proceedings after serving the mandatory portion of his prison sentence.
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield emphasized the importance of holding narcotics traffickers accountable.
“Drug traffickers who operate in Monroe County should understand that our law enforcement partners and prosecutors are committed to holding them accountable,” Mansfield said. “This sentence sends a clear message that those who distribute cocaine in our community will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Madeline Thompson.
