Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Operating Unsafe Interstate Van Service

BOSTON –Wilking A. Mateo Santana, 36, of Springfield, pleaded guilty on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, to 12 counts of illegally operating a transportation service in violation of federal motor carrier safety laws.  U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for May 4, 2016.

Santana operated a van service between Springfield and New York City under the names of Santana Xpress, Inc. and Santana Busline.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ordered Santana to stop operating the transportation service after inspections uncovered numerous safety violations; however, Santana continued to operate the van service. 

The charge provides a sentence of no greater than one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $25,000 on each count.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Todd A. Damiani, Special Agent in Charge of the New England Region of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Goodwin of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.