A Waterbury man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug distribution and firearm possession offenses. Elvin Santos, 26, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford. He will also serve four years of supervised release after his imprisonment.
According to information presented in court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopted three separate state cases involving Santos for federal prosecution.
On March 21, 2021, Waterbury Police observed Santos and others conducting what appeared to be hand-to-hand drug transactions from a car driven by Santos. Officers apprehended him and two others; a search of the vehicle uncovered three loaded handguns, additional ammunition, a digital scale, and distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine.
In June 2021, police obtained a state search warrant based on continued narcotics trafficking by Santos. On July 8, officers executed the warrant at his residence and stopped him as he exited his vehicle. A satchel carried by Santos contained approximately 50 grams of crack cocaine, 280 baggies of fentanyl, more than 120 narcotic pills, a digital scale, a .40 caliber bullet, and other items. Searches of his car and home led to the discovery of marijuana in various quantities, packaging materials for drugs, gun magazines, empty firearms boxes, over $10,000 in cash at his residence.
In May 2022, authorities again secured a search warrant due to ongoing suspected narcotics activity involving Santos. He was arrested on June 14 that year; searches found more than 900 baggies of fentanyl along with cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana in his possession. Additional searches revealed a .38 caliber revolver at his residence and more than $2,000 in cash; another location used by Santos yielded over 5,500 baggies of fentanyl with packaging materials.
Santos has been detained since June 14, 2022. On August 3, 2023 he pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl (and other controlled substances) as well as possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
The investigation involved the Waterbury Police Department alongside federal agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth prosecuted the case.
"David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut," announced these developments.
