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Fentanyl Kingpin Convicted, Faces Life in Prison
Tampa, Florida – In a major blow to the region’s opioid crisis, a federal jury has found Wilis A. Santiago Rivera (60, St. Petersburg) guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Santiago faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
The indictment against Santiago Rivera was handed down on September 12, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, Santiago Rivera was intercepted on a court-authorized wiretap coordinating payment for 2 kilograms of fentanyl that he had previously received on consignment. Other intercepted calls captured Santiago Rivera’s attempts to sell additional kilograms of fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
As the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities across the nation, law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to dismantle the networks responsible for flooding the streets with deadly fentanyl. The conviction of Wilis A. Santiago Rivera is a significant victory in this fight, and serves as a warning to those who would seek to profit from the suffering of others.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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