By: Richard L. Smith
A Philadelphia man has been convicted in federal court for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar burglary at a Gloucester County business and a scheme to conceal the stolen proceeds.
According to information released by U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer, Ruben Cruz, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Davenport, Florida, was found guilty on October 15, 2026, following a three-day trial in Camden federal court.
Federal prosecutors said Cruz and an accomplice, Ricky Rivas-Ortiz, burglarized a Glassboro business during the Fourth of July holiday weekend in 2021, stealing a safe containing more than $2 million in cash and money orders.
Authorities said the pair transported the stolen safe to Philadelphia, where Cruz later worked with another individual to launder the proceeds.
Investigators determined that Cruz altered stolen money orders and deposited them into multiple bank accounts in smaller amounts to avoid detection.
In some instances, prosecutors said Cruz deposited money orders at neighboring banks on the same day and made additional deposits at the same branch over several consecutive days.
A federal jury convicted Cruz of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines, interstate transportation of stolen property, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and seven counts of money laundering.
Rivas-Ortiz previously pleaded guilty to transporting stolen property across state lines and received a 21-month federal prison sentence.
Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2027, before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn.
He faces substantial federal prison time and financial penalties.