United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW YORK-BASED COCAINE SUPPLIER TO STAMFORD DEALERS PLEADS GUILTY

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS MARTE SANTOS, also known as “Julio Cesar Santos,” “Cesar” and “Shorty,” 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to one count of conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”) and a quantity of powder cocaine.

On December 2, 2009, a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging SANTOS and eight other individuals with various narcotics offenses involving the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine.

This matter stems from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation dubbed “Operation Big Loot,” a six-month investigation that was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Stamford Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad.  As a result of the investigation, a total of 52 individuals have been charged in state and federal court with various narcotics offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in the greater Stamford area.  During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized approximately $165,000 in cash, one kilogram of cocaine, two kilograms of crack cocaine, five firearms and several vehicles.

According to court documents and statements made in court, SANTOS was a New York-based cocaine supplier for several Stamford area dealers.

At the time of his arrest on December 2, 2009, SANTOS possessed approximately 425 grams of powder cocaine and 226 grams of crack cocaine.  He also possessed several pieces of identification with different names.

Judge Droney has scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2010, at which time SANTOS faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of life, and a fine of up to $4 million.  SANTOS also has agreed to forfeit $63,000 in cash and a Rolex Submariner watch.

SANTOS has been detained since his arrest.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force – which is composed of members of the Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk and Stratford Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police – the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Stamford Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad.  The United States Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Bridgeport, Darien, Greenwich and Danbury Police Departments assisted in the arrests of several of the defendants.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Spector and Jonathan Freimann.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov