Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE OZUNA CRUZ, also known as Jose Cruz-Cruz, Jose Chapulin, Jose Ozuna-Montero, and Jose Ozun-Cruz, 48, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, Ozuna was deported from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic in February 2010, following a felony conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California and 37-month prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Ozuna subsequently illegally reentered the U.S. On November 21, 2022, Ozuna was arrested by Waterbury Police in Waterbury and charged with various state drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.
Ozuna, who had been released on bond in his state case, appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of illegal reentry, Ozuna faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The state charges against him are pending.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Casey.