A Dominican man was sentenced on July 23 in federal court to seven years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl to New Hampshire residents while operating from outside the United States, according to U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.
Starlin Alexander Valdez De Los Santos, 35, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, received an 84-month sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante, followed by four years of supervised release. Valdez De Los Santos pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
“This defendant believed that operating from abroad and communicating through encrypted platforms would place him beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement, but this sentence demonstrates otherwise,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This outcome reflects sustained coordination between the DEA, our partners in the Dominican Republic, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, whose work led to this defendant’s extradition and prosecution.”
Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division said, “This case demonstrates that drug traffickers operating beyond our borders are not beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement. Those who choose to supply fentanyl into the United States, regardless of where they hide, should know that the DEA and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue them and hold them accountable. The fentanyl distributed by this defendant made its way into communities in New Hampshire, putting countless lives at risk. Every kilogram of fentanyl trafficked into our country has the potential to cause devastating loss, and we remain committed to dismantling the international criminal networks responsible for fueling this public safety crisis.”
Chief David Cayot of Hudson Police Department said, “Fentanyl trafficking is a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our community. This case reflects the effective partnership between the Hudson Police Department and our federal partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration. We remain committed to identifying and holding accountable those who distribute dangerous narcotics in Hudson.”
According to charging documents and statements made in court during an August 2021 overdose death investigation, Hudson Police Department detectives collected evidence showing phone communications between an overdose victim and a narcotics supplier using Facebook accounts as well as encrypted messaging apps linked with a Dominican Republic-based phone number for drug sales coordination locally. In July 2022, investigators with DEA initiated an inquiry which ultimately showed Valdez De Los Santos operated a significant drug distribution network involving suppliers and local distributors over several years using sophisticated communication methods while residing outside United States territory; authorities seized more than 750 grams during eight undercover operations from 2022 through 2024 plus approximately another 220 grams during additional operations in 2025.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led this investigation with assistance from Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs as well as local police agencies including Hudson Police Department; Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega prosecuted this case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative utilizing resources across multiple agencies aimed at countering illegal immigration activities along with eliminating cartels or transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) threatening community safety.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire enhances community well-being by enforcing federal laws under direction from United States Attorney General; it handles prosecutions involving federal crimes or civil cases representing government interests before courts while building alliances among law enforcement entities statewide, according to the official website.