SAN FRANCISCO — A 28-year-old man has been found guilty of drug dealing in one of the Bay Area’s most heavily policed neighborhoods, marking another effort by local officials to push back against San Francisco’s ongoing opioid crisis.
Stuardo Cruz Cruz, who was already on probation for similar crimes, was convicted of possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine for sale or purchase in the Tenderloin District. The verdict was handed down following a trial involving eyewitness testimony from San Francisco police officers and detailed forensic evidence of prepackaged drug sales.
Caught Dealing Drugs in Public View
According to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, Cruz Cruz was observed by officers on December 17, 2024, exchanging narcotics for cash on the 700 block of O’Farrell Street. After a brief foot chase, police apprehended him and recovered the following from his person:
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3.3 grams of fentanyl
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9.5 grams of methamphetamine
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99 individually packaged drug baggies
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$66 in U.S. currency
The evidence was presented in court, leading to a swift conviction by the jury.
Officials Say This Is About Community Safety
Assistant District Attorney Paul Samra, who led the prosecution, said the conviction reflects a city-wide commitment to stopping drug distribution that threatens community safety.
“This conviction underscores a commitment to rooting out those who endanger lives for profit via sale of fentanyl,” Samra said, according to the DA’s official press release.
Cruz Cruz’s continued involvement in drug dealing while on probation “mocked the criminal justice system,” officials noted — further angering advocates and residents who’ve demanded tougher responses to open-air drug markets in the Tenderloin.
Not His First Offense
The case was bolstered by the testimony of SFPD’s Narcotics Unit and Tenderloin Station, as well as support from District Attorney Investigator Scott Wong and a team of paralegals.
Despite the serious nature of the crimes, Cruz Cruz remains out of custody until his sentencing, which is scheduled for August 12, 2025.
How do you think cities like San Francisco and Chicago should respond to repeat drug offenders? Should probation be revoked sooner in these cases? Share your thoughts at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
