A Woonsocket gas station manager was brutally murdered in a 2010 robbery that sent shockwaves through the community. Now, nearly a decade later, the mastermind behind the heinous crime has had his guilty plea denied.
José Alibal Santiago, a convicted felon, had been serving a 40-year federal prison sentence for his role in the September 2010 robbery and murder of the gas station manager. On September 5, 2013, Santiago pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery affecting commerce, robbery affecting commerce, and possessing, using, carrying, and discharging a gun in relation to a crime of violence with death resulting.
However, in a recent decision, the First Circuit Court of Appeals denied Santiago’s effort to withdraw his guilty plea. This means that Santiago’s original sentence of 40 years in federal prison will stand.
The case, which has been ongoing for years, has garnered significant attention in the community. The murder of the gas station manager was a senseless act of violence that left a family and a community in mourning.
Santiago’s denial of his guilty plea may have come as a disappointment to some, but it is a reminder that justice can be a slow and arduous process. As the case comes to a close, the community can finally begin to heal and move forward.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision is a significant development in the case. It serves as a reminder that those who commit heinous crimes will be held accountable for their actions.
The US Attorney’s Office has released a statement regarding the case. For more information on federal judicial terms and procedures, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/justice101/.
Contact the US Attorney’s Office at 401-709-5357 or USARI.Media@usdoj.gov for more information.
Related Federal Cases
- Jose Alibal Santiago, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery Affecting Commerce, Rhode Island 2013 · Rhode Island
- Kelley M. Lajoie, Armed Robbery and Murder, Rhode Island 2010 · Rhode Island
- Jason W. Pleau, Murder and Robbery, Rhode Island 2010 · Rhode Island
- John Ryder, Bank Robbery by Force, Violence, and Intimidation, Rhode Island 2016 · Rhode Island
- Lenin Gutierrez, Bank Robbery, Rhode Island 2016 · Rhode Island
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
