The second of two men indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing more than 500 grams of cocaine in Minneapolis has pled guilty, the U. S. Attorney's Office said.
Mario Maya-Villa, 19, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of cocaine.
Dino Cruz-Cruz, 27, pleaded guilty to the same count Aug. 1.
According to a Minneapolis Police affidavit, authorities received information that Cruz-Cruz was importing and selling large quantities of cocaine in Minneapolis. On May 12, police arranged a "controlled buy" from Cruz-Cruz in a Target parking lot.
Cruz-Cruz entered a vehicle where he made an agreement with the occupant to return later to exchange $25,000 for 1 kilogram of cocaine. After Cruz-Cruz left the vehicle, he and Maya-Villa went to a south Minneapolis apartment building. They later drove to a car wash to complete the transaction discussed in the Target parking lot, the complaint said.
Police arrested the two and recovered about 1 kilogram of cocaine in a shoe box. A search of their apartment found scales, knives, a vacuum sealer and other items commonly used for cutting and packaging cocaine. They also found a semi-automatic pistol and 5 ounces of cocaine packaged in 1-ounce quantities, the indictment said.
The men face a maximum penalty of 40 years in jail. Their sentences will be handed down at a future date, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Minnesota lawmakers consider steeper fines for violating limits on water use

Meet the St. Paul soccer star building community through his expanding foundation

Blood pressure monitoring at home helps Minnesota moms reduce birth complications
Woman killed in crash with semi-truck in north Minnesota
