WORCESTER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced this week the sentencing of three individuals part of a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy. The convictions make the number of individuals sentenced as part of the drug trafficking organization to 17.
On Monday, Oct. 30, U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman sentenced Pedro Villot-Santiago, 33, of Fitchburg, to 112 months in prison. Pedro Villot-Santiago pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess large quantities of heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and cocaine.
According to federal prosecutors, court authorized interceptions of communications between members of the conspiracy revealed Villot-Santiago was a large-scale cocaine supplier.
When Villot-Santiago was arrested in July 2023, he was found with a stolen, loaded handgun, and pver $252,000 in cash.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Adiangel Paredes, 37, was sentenced by Hillman to 135 months in prison. Paredes was convicted in a jury trial in October 2022 of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Between September 2018 and November 2019, prosecutors say Paredes distributed 850 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture in three purchases by law enforcement.
Hillman also sentenced Jonathan Villot, 32, to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Between January and July 2020, During the investigation, Villot distributed cocaine to a cooperating witness on three occasions. In two of those deals, Villot sent Ivan Torres to conduct the delivery.
Torres pleaded guilty in September 2023 and was sentenced to 37 months in prion.
A fatal fentanyl overdose in Fitchburg in September 2018 led to an investigation into drug trafficking in Fitchburg. Over the courts of the investigation, over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, over 3.6 kilograms of cocaine were seized, a stolen handgun, and $376,000 in cash were seized.
The investigation led to charges against 18 defendants. The 18th is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 16.
