Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Heroin, Gun Crimes

A Springfield, Massachusetts man, Keniel Santiago, 21, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in a heroin and gun trafficking operation in Vermont.

Burlington, Vermont – On June 10, 2024, United States District Judge Christina Reiss handed down the sentence to Santiago, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin and crack cocaine in Vermont between September 2020 and March 2021.

Santiago also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting making false statements in connection with the acquisition of a firearm in Vermont in January 2021. According to court records, Santiago worked with others to transport heroin and crack cocaine from Springfield, Massachusetts to Bennington, Vermont, where they would sell the illicit drugs.

Santiago also arranged for a co-conspirator to purchase a handgun on his behalf from a Vermont dealer. However, the co-conspirator lied to the dealer, stating the gun was for their own use, not Santiago’s. In exchange for the gun, Santiago paid the co-conspirator in cash and drugs.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bennington Police Department, the Vermont State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Perella and Colin Owyang, with Santiago represented by Ian Carleton, Esq. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities nationwide.

Project Safe Neighborhoods brings together law enforcement and community organizations to prevent violence and make neighborhoods safer. The program is based on four core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy, supporting community-based prevention efforts, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

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