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Police: USPS carrier played key role in drug trafficking organization

MARLBORO, Mass. — Federal agents say a postal carrier was a key part of a Massachusetts drug trafficking organization.

The USPS carrier is being accused of making sure drugs reached a local dealer by using his route as a carrier to deliver packages.

According to a 34-page affidavit, Deibby Garcia, an alleged Worcester cocaine dealer, is accused of arranging for his supplier in Puerto Rico to send cocaine packages to addresses in Marlboro through priority mail that were on Erick Cruz's letter route.

Through wiretapping, DEA agents say they listened to calls and read texts between Garcia and Cruz where they arranged for deliveries.

Cruz lives in Worcester, and neighbors say they are shocked to hear the quiet postal worker was involved in such an elaborate scheme.

"I knew he was a postal worker because I always see him in his uniform but other than that he kept to himself," said Jennifer Laporte, a neighbor. "I used to work at the postal office and they don't play with things like that."

However, among the messages intercepted, agents could tell the pair knew something was wrong as they discuss that something may have happened to two of their packages:

DEIBBY: "Send me the label so I can check it."
CRUZ: "It arrived at 7:33, today."
DEIBBY: "Today at 7:33, yeah. At Marlboro Post Office."
CRUZ: "It says delivery. It says express delivery for today."

According to federal court paperwork obtained by Boston 25 News, one package arrived but the other was intercepted by federal agents.

Cruz was arrested after law enforcement watched him take a package for delivery and listened as he arranged for a woman to pick it up. They then stopped the woman and recovered the package.

Garcia and Cruz have been charged and will appear in U.S District Court on Friday.

Cruz's attorney says his client maintains his innocence and looks forward to being vindicated.