BOSTON, July 3, 2018—State Police narcotics detectives seized three handguns along with heroin and cocaine from the home of an alleged drug dealer already on probation following convictions for firearms offenses, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

SANDY SANTIAGO, 32, who also claims residency in Lowell, was arraigned today in Chelsea District Court for one count of trafficking in 36 or more grams of heroin, one count of trafficking in 18 or more grams of heroin, and three counts of distribution of a Class A substance. Santiago was taken into custody in Revere yesterday after he allegedly sold 40 grams of heroin to an undercover trooper assigned to the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit.

Firearms and narcotics seized from the Dorchester residence of an alleged drug trafficker following his arrest by State Police

“The evidence here doesn’t suggest personal use or low-level distribution to support a habit,” Conley said. “It suggests the distribution of deadly and addictive substances for profit. Drug trafficking exists at the intersection of drug addiction and violent crime, and the firearms recovered in this case illustrate that point all too well.”

Judge D. Dunbar Livingston set Santiago’s bail at $50,000 and ordered him to wear a GPS device if he posts that amount.

Santiago faces additional charges in Boston for three handguns, 14 rounds of ammunition, seven bags of a substance believed to be crack cocaine, and three bags of a substance believed to be heroin, all of which were recovered during the execution of a search warrant at a Sydney Street residence where he has allegedly been living for about two months. Santiago will be charged as an armed career criminal in light of a 2017 conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon; 2014 convictions for possessing a firearm and ammunition without a license and attempting to suborn perjury, for which he served three years in prison; prior drug convictions in 2007 and 2008; and three prior assault and battery convictions from 2006 and 2008. He will be arraigned at a later date in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court.

Over the course of the past several months of investigating drug distribution in Suffolk County, state troopers assigned to Conley’s office were introduced to Santiago and arranged several meetings with him. They bought heroin from him four times in Revere and Dorchester between April and June, including one purchase of 30 grams of heroin, before arranging yesterday’s meeting.

Santiago was represented today by attorney Zachary Lown and will return to Chelsea court on Aug. 3. His arraignment in Dorchester court has not yet been scheduled.

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