Luis Santos and Rafael Lora, Cocaine Conspiracy, Pennsylvania 2016

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania – In a shocking turn of events, Luis Santos, age 49, of New York, New York, and Rafael Lora, age 41, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Scranton with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and with conspiracy.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Santos and Lora were arrested on March 30, 2015, as the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Customs and Border Patrol, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Hazleton Police Department.

Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty for each offense under federal law is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances, and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public, and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational, and medical needs.

For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

Luis Santos and Rafael Lora are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court. The outcome of their case remains to be seen.

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