Prosecutors: Arrests, Drug Seizures Disrupt Heroin Distribution Ring

BOSTON, March 3, 2015— Three people were arraigned yesterday and three more face arraignment later this month in connection with an investigation by Boston Police that uncovered two firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and more than 350 grams of illicit drugs, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Arraigned yesterday in Dorchester Municipal Court were:

  • ANGEL SANTIAGO (D.O.B. 3/9/82) of Mattapan on two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and one count each of unlawful possession of ammunition, heroin trafficking and cocaine trafficking.  He was also charged with possession with intent to distribute a class A substance as a subsequent offense and possession with intent to distribute a class B substance as a subsequent offense based on convictions in 2001 for possession with intent to distribute a class B drug and for possession with intent to distribute a class A substance and possession with intent to distribute a class B substance in South Boston Municipal Court last year.  He is currently serving a three year probationary period after receiving a two-year suspended sentence on those charges in December, prosecutors said.
  • JOSE SANTIAGO (D.O.B. 10/13/79) of Mattapan, charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws, and
  • ROBERTO BAEZ (D.O.B. 11/9/60) of Dorchester, charged with heroin trafficking and possession with intent to distribute a class B substance.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Kettlewell requested that bail for Angel Santiago be set at $500,000, Jose Santiago’s bail be set at $150,000, and $50,000 bail for Baez.  Judge Serge Georges set bail in the amount of $25,000 for Angel Santiago and ordered him to wear a GPS monitor and be confined to his home in the event he is released on bail.  Georges set $1,000 bail for Jose Santiago and Baez.  He denied a request by prosecutors to revoke Baez’s bail on two open 2014 cases, one charging knowingly receiving a stolen motor vehicle and use without authority and the other charging disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a dangerous weapon.

Three additional defendants, FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ (D.O.B 6/12/81) of Roxbury, DANIELLE SULLIVAN (D.O.B. 1/31/86) of Roxbury, and COURTNEY AVERY (D.O.B. 3/13/93) of Peabody, face charges of heroin trafficking, cocaine trafficking, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.  Judge Thomas Kaplanes postponed arraignment for the three until March 16 over the objections of prosecutors.

According to prosecutors, Boston Police officers on Friday morning executed warrants allowing them to search Angel Santiago, his apartment at 108 Greetfield Rd., and a second apartment at 91 Esmond St. as part of an investigation into drug activity centered at the Esmond Street residence.

At approximately 6:00 a.m., officers observed Santiago exit 91 Esmond St. and enter a vehicle driven by a man later identified as Baez.  Santiago exited the vehicle on Harvard Street and was placed under arrest pursuant to the warrant.

Additional officers stopped Baez and discovered a clear plastic bag containing 11 smaller baggies of heroin on the vehicle’s passenger seat, and additional 10 plastic bags containing heroin, a metal mint tin containing two baggies of cocaine, and a total of $332 from Baez’s pockets, prosecutors said.

Inside 91 Esmond St., officers recovered 325 grams of heroin, 50 grams of cocaine, Percocet pills, steroids, a loaded Rugar semiautomatic 9 mm pistol, a loaded Bersa .380 pistol, more than 200 rounds of ammunition, and a large amount of cash.  Rodriguez, Sullivan, and Avery were present at the location and placed under arrest.

Jose Santiago was arrested during the execution of a warrant at the Greenfield Road address.

“Opiate overdoses are skyrocketing in Massachusetts,” Conley said. “Heroin addiction is devastating lives and families. And at a time when every branch of government is trying to mitigate the damage, the evidence suggests these defendants were pouring fuel on the fire to line their pockets.”

Angel Santiago was represented by Michael Doolin, Jose Santiago by Andrea Stanton, and Baez by J.P. Wing. All return to court March 27.  Rodriguez was represented by Margaret Barusch, Sullivan by Tom Silivitch, and Avery by Jessica Tripp.  Each will appear for arraignment March 16.

 

 

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.