Suspect Kept Ledger Of Those Who Owed Him Money
The Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team Narcotics Taskforce concluded an investigation of heroin trafficking in Santa Cruz County with the arrest of Santa Cruz resident, 32-year-old Esteban Ruiz.
On Wednesday, April 1, the Narcotics Taskforce, along with the Gang Taskforce, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit, and agents from the US Department of Homeland Security, executed search warrants at an apartment on the 1000 block of Cayuga Street, and for the suspect’s vehicle.
32-year-old Esteban Ruiz had come under suspicion of the SCCACT NTF after his arrest in May of last year, when the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team Gang Task Force booked him for possession of a firearm.
During the execution of the search warrants, agents found 256 grams of heroin packaged for sale. The heroin had an estimated street value of $12,000.00 to $14,000.00. Agents also found 23 grams of methamphetamine that was also packaged for sale. The apartment where the warrant was served is about a half mile from Ruiz’ listed home address, on Josefa Way off of Water Street.
Evidence of Ruiz’ drug sales collected via the search warrant.
Agents also found a big piece of evidence when they located Ruiz’ pay/owe ledger, which was labeled “Get My Money.” They also found packaging material, including baggies labeled “Good Sense”. Funny – do you think he used good sense in dealing in illegal drugs? I’ll let you be the judge on that.
But the agents did not need to arrest Ruiz at the apartment or his residence, because he was already in custody from an arrest on March 28 for driving a stolen vehicle, less than a week before agents served the warrants. They did however, file addition charges for possession and sale of a controlled substances and transportation of a controlled substance.
