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Press Release

Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced To Nearly Six Years In Federal Prison For Being A Felon In Possession Of A Firearm, Violating Terms Of Supervised Release

For Immediate Release
District of Rhode Island






PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Fernando Santana, 27, of Providence, was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for violating terms of supervised release imposed at the time of sentencing on a previous federal conviction for drug trafficking, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi also ordered Santana to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Santana pleaded guilty on September 24, 2013, to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Santana was arrested by Providence Police on May 22, 2013, following a brief foot pursuit, during which time he stashed a loaded .357 revolver belonging to him in a stack of mattresses. At the time of his arrest, Santana was serving a term of supervised release imposed in 2011, which followed a term of imprisonment of 37 months for drug trafficking.

According to information presented to the court, detectives and officers responded to a dispatch broadcast of an individual or individuals with a gun in a South Side neighborhood. As a Providence detective exited his vehicle to speak with two men who fit the description of the individuals described in the broadcast, Santana fled on foot. An officer in pursuit came upon Santana and noticed him grasping at his waist. As the officer continued the pursuit and came around the corner in a rear yard he noticed Santana retracting his hand from between a pile of mattresses. Santana was apprehended a short distance away. A loaded .357 revolver was retrieved from the pile of mattresses.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee H. Vilker and Richard B. Myrus.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted Providence Police in the investigation of this matter.

To assist the media and the public, a glossary of federal judicial terms and procedures is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/justice101/

Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov

Updated June 22, 2015