RUTLAND — A Massachusetts man was sentenced to serve 140 months in prison after being convicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base.
Court records show that Daniel Ruiz, aka “P-Nut,” was arrested on March 23, 2022, after search warrants were executed at the Highlander Motel in Rutland.
Law enforcement found approximately 37 grams of cocaine base, 168 bags of fentanyl, over $5,000 in cash, and a Glock 9mm handgun in Room 15 of the motel.
An investigation showed that Ruiz was a supervisor and manager of a drug trafficking operation that operated out of the motel from approximately January 2022 until his arrest.
Ruiz’s criminal conduct involved the trafficking of at least 200 grams of cocaine and 80 grams of fentanyl, with Ruiz making up to $1,000 a day in profits from the sale of controlled substances.
In addition to managing and supervising the drug trafficking activities of a co-defendant, Joel Caquias Aviles, and a 17-year-old juvenile, Ruiz also had the juvenile make deliveries of cocaine base and fentanyl to purchasing customers, paying the juvenile in both cash and marijuana.
Ruiz has a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, as well as a conviction in Massachusetts state court for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
