STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Fred Santiago, 30, of Dunkirk, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, five kilograms or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who handled the case, stated that between July 2016 and May 2, 2017, the defendant conspired with co-defendant Michael Pacheco to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine in and around the Western District of New York. Santiago obtained the cocaine from a source of supply in New York City for sale and distribution to others.
On May 2, 2017, a state search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence on Lincoln Avenue in Dunkirk. Approximately 640 grams of cocaine was seized from a safe, and approximately 39 grams of marijuana was seized from the kitchen counter. In addition, law enforcement officers seized four drug scales, $44,000 in cash, $2,000 in money orders, a heat sealer, plastic bags, and a metal kilo drug press.
Michael Pacheco was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 18 months in prison.
Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; the Evans Police Department, under the direction of Chief Douglas Czora; the Dunkirk Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Ortolano; and the Chautauqua County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Joseph Gerace.
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