Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Two men from New Bedford have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other drugs. Jose Santiago, 43, and Samuel Rodriguez, 39, face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The arrests took place on July 13, 2025, and both were detained following initial court appearances in Boston on July 16, 2025.
The charging documents reveal Santiago's extensive criminal history, including multiple felonies such as drug distribution and firearm possession dating back to 1999. His record also includes a federal conviction in 2001 for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Meanwhile, Rodriguez's criminal past includes convictions for assaulting a police officer and various drug-related offenses since 2003.
An investigation initiated in early 2025 uncovered that Santiago and Rodriguez allegedly used at least ten storage units in New Bedford and other areas for drug trafficking activities. These units were reportedly used to store narcotics and conduct deals. Some units were rented under different names to avoid detection by law enforcement.
Search warrants executed at these locations led to the seizure of significant amounts of suspected fentanyl, cocaine, unidentified pills, cutting agents, small presses for packaging drugs, and two large hydraulic presses.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, with at least three years of supervised release and fines reaching $1 million. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the arrests alongside Stephen Belleau from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jason Thody from the New Bedford Police Department. Assistance was provided by several local police departments across Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kunal Pasricha is handling the prosecution.
The details outlined in the charging document are allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
