Press Release: 7/15/2025

Two New Bedford Men with Significant Criminal Histories Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances

 



Monday, July 14, 2025



 



For Immediate Release



 



BOSTON – Two New Bedford men have been arrested for their alleged participation in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other drugs.



Jose Santiago, 43, and Samuel Rodriguez, 39, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The defendants were arrested on July 13, 2025 and, following initial appearances in federal court in Boston, were detained pending further proceedings on July 16, 2025.



According to the charging documents, Santiago has previously been convicted of multiple felonies including: two state convictions in 1999 for distribution of a class A substance and for possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced to six months in prison and 2.5 years in prison, respectively; a 2001 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced 46 months in federal prison; and a 2006 state conviction for trafficking controlled substances for which he was sentenced to 15-20 years in prison.



According to the charging documents, Rodriguez’s criminal history includes: 2003 convictions for assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest; 2004 convictions for disturbing the peace and motor vehicle offenses; 2005 convictions for possession of a class B controlled substance and motor vehicle offenses; 2006 convictions for breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony and a firearm offense for which he was sentenced to two years in prison; a 2007 conviction for possession with intent to distribute a class D substance; 2010 convictions for motor vehicle offenses; 2011 convictions for disturbing the peace and threats; 2013 convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon, property damage, and motor vehicle offenses; a 2015 conviction for assault and battery on a police officer; and 2017 convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon and trafficking heroin for which he was sentenced to six to eight years in prison. Additionally, Rodriguez has pending 2024 state charges of assault and battery using a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury for allegedly stabbing another person multiple times.



In early 2025, an investigation began into Santiago and Rodriguez’s alleged distribution of narcotics in New Bedford and other communities. The investigation revealed that, from at least March 2025 through the present, the defendants allegedly utilized at least 10 storage units in New Bedford, and other locations, to further their drug trafficking activities – including to store narcotics and drug trafficking materials as well as to conduct drug deals. The defendants allegedly rented several of these storage units under the names of others, including under the name of a living 101-year-old woman. It is further alleged that, over the course of the investigation, the defendants routinely closed a number of storage units and moved their operations to new units in different facilities – in an effort to avoid detection by law enforcement.



Search warrants executed at the storage units and other locations resulted in the seizure of various drugs and drug trafficking materials. Among other items, significant amounts of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and unidentified pills; cutting agents; multiple small “presses” used to compress powdered fentanyl into finger-sized packages for drug distribution; and two large hydraulic presses were seized.



Suspected fentanyl, cocaine, pills, small finger press and other drug paraphernalia sized on July 10, 2025



 



Large hydraulic press machines allegedly seized on July 10, 2025.



The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.



United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Jason Thody, Chief of the New Bedford Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Attleboro, Brockton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Norton, Scituate, Taunton and Westport Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kunal Pasricha of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.



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