Fall River Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

 Firearm and approximately 40 grams of fentanyl substance found in defendant’s storage unit

BOSTON – A Fall River man was sentenced today in connection with a cocaine distribution conspiracy.

Alexander Santiago Medina, a/k/a “Flaco,” 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas L. Woodlock to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. On March 9, 2021, Santiago Medina pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

From at least February 2019 through December 2019, Santiago Medina was involved in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. Investigators intercepted a number of communications between Santiago Medina and co-conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy, including communications on June 17, 2019, in which Santiago Medina and various co-conspirators agreed to distribute two kilograms of cocaine or more. Later that day, investigators seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine from one of Santiago Medina’s co-conspirators. After Santiago Medina was arrested on Dec. 5, 2019, investigators searched a storage unit used by Santiago Medina and found a firearm and approximately 40 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. 

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspector Service, Boston Division; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.