Providence Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Pound of Fentanyl

PROVIDENCE, RI - A Providence man who admitted to a federal judge that he was in possession of more than a pound of fentanyl when he was arrested, only a year after completing a term of incarceration in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl, and who was still on federal supervised release at the time of his most recent arrest, has been sentenced to six years in prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Felix Santos, 28, pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, to a charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on September 12, 2024, to 72 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. Additionally, at the government's request, the court ordered Santos to forfeit $3,619 in cash and assorted jewelry that he obtained as a result of his drug trafficking activities and that were seized from him at the time of his arrest.

As reflected in court documents, in May 2021, just one year after Santos was released from prison, Providence Police developed information that Santos was again involved in narcotics trafficking. Between May and June of 2021, three controlled purchases of fentanyl were conducted outside of Santos' residence as part of a DEA investigation. On other occasions, Santos was surveilled by law enforcement engaging in behavior consistent with street-level narcotics distribution while outside his residence.

On June 25, 2021, members of the Providence Police Narcotics Bureau executed a court-authorized search of Santos' residence and seized 457 grams of fentanyl, 50 grams of crack cocaine, and various materials and items used in the packaging and distribution of narcotics.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman.

The matter was investigated by the Providence Police Narcotics Bureau and the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force.

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