A Maryland resident and a California accomplice have pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to drug trafficking. Norville Clarke, 56, of Clarksburg, Maryland, and Daniel Cruz, 39, of Los Angeles, California, admitted their roles in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. The investigation involved multiple agencies including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Maryland State Police (MSP), Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), and Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to court documents, the case began in March 2023 when MSP intercepted a parcel containing about two kilograms of cocaine mailed from Los Angeles to Clarke’s auto-repair shop in District Heights, Maryland. Investigators traced the package back to Cruz.
In January 2024, authorities identified another shipment sent from Los Angeles to Clarke’s business. Surveillance footage showed Cruz delivering the freight at a shipping company in California and later traveling to Maryland as the shipment was delivered.
Law enforcement observed both men meeting at Clarke’s shop after the shipment arrived. Authorities found the container in Dulles, Virginia; after a K-9 unit indicated narcotics were present, they obtained a search warrant and discovered two automobile transmissions concealing more than 16 kilograms of cocaine inside oil pans.
Further searches at Clarke’s business and home uncovered an additional 502.4 grams of cocaine at his shop and two-kilogram bricks plus $45,730 cash at his residence. Cruz’s hotel room was also searched as part of the operation. Investigators later linked nine previous shipments matching this pattern from Cruz to Clarke using the same freight company.
Both defendants admitted involvement with nearly 22 kilograms of cocaine during this conspiracy. They face mandatory minimum sentences of ten years up to life imprisonment with possible lifetime supervised release. Sentencing is set for June 18 for Cruz and July 24 for Clarke.
U.S. Attorney Hayes stated: "I commend the USPIS, DEA, MSP, MCPD, and PGPD for their work in this investigation." She also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Rigney and Michael Jaskiw for prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities.
More information on these efforts can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
