Two men from New Bedford have been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other drugs. Jose Santiago, 43, and Samuel Rodriguez, 39, were arrested on July 13, 2025. Both face one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and are detained following their initial court appearances in Boston.
The charging documents reveal Santiago’s criminal history includes several felony convictions. These include two state convictions in 1999 for drug distribution and firearm possession, a federal conviction in 2001 for drug conspiracy and firearm possession, and a state conviction in 2006 for drug trafficking.
Rodriguez also has an extensive criminal record. His past offenses range from assaulting a police officer in 2003 to trafficking heroin in 2017. He currently faces pending charges from 2024 related to an alleged stabbing incident.
An investigation initiated in early 2025 uncovered the defendants’ alleged narcotics distribution activities in New Bedford and surrounding areas. They reportedly used at least ten storage units for storing drugs and conducting deals, often renting them under others’ names to evade law enforcement detection.
Search warrants executed at these locations led to the seizure of suspected fentanyl, cocaine, unidentified pills, cutting agents, small presses for packaging fentanyl, and large hydraulic presses.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison with at least three years of supervised release and fines up to $1 million. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the charges alongside Stephen Belleau of the DEA and Jason Thody of the New Bedford Police Department. The Massachusetts State Police and various local police departments provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kunal Pasricha is prosecuting the case.
The allegations remain as such until proven beyond reasonable doubt in court.
