John Santos, Conspiring to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, New York 2017

A Bronx-based drug trafficking ring led by John Santos has been dismantled after he was sentenced to 121 months in prison for conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine, and marijuana throughout New York City.

U.S. District Judge Frederic Block handed down the sentence at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on [date]. Santos, 36, pleaded guilty in December 2017 to his role as the leader of the large-scale drug trafficking ring.

Between July 2016 and March 2017, Santos led a Bronx-based drug trafficking ring that distributed large amounts of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana throughout New York City, including to out-of-state customers. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration special agents seized quantities of those controlled substances, a kilogram press, and other drug paraphernalia in his Bronx apartment at the time of his arrest.

Santos also served as the principal point of contact for the narcotics source of supply based in the Dominican Republic. Two co-defendants, Robert Santos and Kevin Brito, previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan C. Harris is in charge of the prosecution.

According to U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue, Santos will serve a significant prison term for his role as the leader of the large-scale drug trafficking ring. This Office and our law enforcement partners are responding to the opioid epidemic by vigorously investigating and prosecuting those like the defendant who seek to line their own pockets by selling dangerous drugs in our communities.

The sentencing of Santos sends a clear message that we will not tolerate this kind of activity anywhere in New York State, said NYSP Acting Superintendent Keith M. Corlett. Santos had no regard for the damage his actions inflicted upon the communities where he trafficked narcotics.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/drug-trafficker-sentenced-121-months-conspiring-distribute-heroin-cocaine-and-marijuana