Newburgh Man Convicted of Crack Possession With Intent to Sell

A City of Newburgh man was convicted Tuesday of possession of over five grams of crack cocaine and powder cocaine with intent to sell it.

Jose Cruz-Lanza, 26, was arrested on May 11, 2015 after City of Newburgh police responding to reports of gunshots on South Clark Street saw him running from the area. Cruz-Lanza was later found to not have been involved with the shooting, but police discovered the cocaine in his pants pocket.

The cocaine was found in a seven small bags held in a larger plastic big, which police experts testified indicated his intention to sell the drug rather than possess it for personal use.

"The evidence in this case clearly supported the jury’s determination that this defendant possessed cocaine with the intent to sell it,” District Attorney David M. Hoovler said in a press release issued by his office.

Cruz-Lanza faces a maximum of nine years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 23, 2016.