WASHINGTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - District of Columbia), published as received.
WASHINGTON – Elvin Cruz (“Cruz”), 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 44 months in prison for aggravated assault, third degree sexual abuse, two counts of misdemeanor sexual abuse, and assault, announced United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Robert J. Contee, III, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Cruz pleaded guilty on September 1, 2022.
According to court documents, on July 10, 2021, Cruz followed his first victim as she was walking to the store. He approached the victim from behind and put his hand in between her legs touching her vagina, without her consent. On July 24, 2021, Cruz followed his second victim as she was walking home from a friend’s house. When she arrived at the front steps of her residence, Cruz shoved her to the ground. Cruz then placed himself on top of the victim and started touching her private area through her shorts while also lifting up her dress. The victim tried to fend Cruz off and defend herself by pushing him away. Cruz continued the assault and began to strangle the victim around the neck area, until the victim blacked out and lost consciousness.
On August 7, 2021, Cruz approached a third victim by following her and a companion as they were walking home. Cruz followed them for multiple blocks and, after being noticed by the companion, ran up to the victim and grabbed her private area without her consent. Cruz then continued to try to grab the victim while her companion tried to fend him off. Less than an hour following this assault, Cruz approached a fourth victim, whom he followed while she was walking home. Upon observing Cruz following her, the victim sped up but the defendant started running and caught up to her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. The victim managed to break free and eventually run away and call 911.
In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Judge Milton Lee ordered six years of supervised release and ordered Cruz to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Over the government’s objection, Judge Lee sentenced Cruz pursuant to the Youth Rehabilitation Act.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of the detectives and patrol officers of the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Lezlie Richardson and Tracey Hawkins the Victim/Witness Specialist assigned to this matter, and paralegal Tiffany Jones. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Marco Crocetti, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
