A collaborative investigation into a drug trafficking scheme originating from an auto-repair shop in District Heights has led to guilty pleas from those involved.
Norville Clarke, 56, from Clarksburg, and 39-year-old Daniel Cruz from Los Angeles, California, were both charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
The investigation kicked off in March 2023 when a package was sent from the Los Angeles area to Clarke’s auto shop. Authorities intercepted the parcel, uncovering approximately two kilograms of cocaine that was traced back to Cruz.
In January 2024, law enforcement flagged a freight shipment container en route from Los Angeles to the auto shop. Surveillance footage captured Cruz dropping off the shipment at a California shipping facility before traveling to Maryland to oversee the delivery.
Cruz and Clarke met at the auto-repair shop a few days after the shipment left California. Investigators located the container in Dulles, Virginia, where a K-9 officer detected narcotics.
A search of the container revealed 20 one-kilogram bricks concealed within oil pans of two transmissions, confirming the presence of over 16 kilograms of cocaine.
Further searches conducted at the auto shop, Clarke’s home, and Cruz’s hotel room yielded additional findings. At the shop, authorities discovered 502.4 grams of cocaine, while Clarke’s residence contained two-kilogram bricks of cocaine and $45,730 in cash.
Investigators identified nine prior shipments containing cocaine sent by Cruz to Clarke’s auto-repair shop through the same freight service.
As part of their plea agreements, both Clarke and Cruz acknowledged their involvement in possessing nearly 22 kilograms of cocaine and participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy. They face a minimum sentence of 10 years, with a maximum of life in prison.
Cruz’s sentencing is set for Thursday, June 18, at 1 p.m., while Clarke’s sentencing will take place on Friday, July 24, at 10 a.m.
