Three Arrested On Charges Of Conspiracy To Distribute Heroin

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Wilson Santiago, 35, of Hartford, CT, Jose Pagan, 37, of Hartford, CT, and Samantha Partlow, 29, of Barre, VT, made initial appearances today in the United States District Court in Burlington, following their arrests for conspiracy to distribute heroin. U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy temporarily detained all three people. Their detention hearings are set for next week.

According to court documents, in the spring of 2015, the ATF began an investigation into Samantha Partlow. ATF had received information that Partlow was selling heroin and crack cocaine from her apartment at 100 Summer Street in Barre and that her drug suppliers were people from the Hartford, CT area. In October and November 2015, the ATF used a confidential informant to conduct three controlled buys of heroin from Partlow at Partlow’s apartment on Summer Street. On November 17, 2015, ATF executed a search warrant at Partlow’s residence. As the ATF approached the residence, a person from inside the apartment, later identified as Wilson Santiago, threw a package of crack out one of the windows of Partlow’s apartment. Inside the residence, ATF found heroin, along with a scale and other paraphernalia used to package drugs. Santiago and Pagan (who was also inside the house during the search) were identified as two of the men from Hartford, CT, who were supplying Partlow with heroin and crack.

The United States Attorney, Eric S. Miller, emphasized that the charge against Santiago, Pagan and Partlow is merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.

If convicted, the defendants face up to twenty years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.

Santiago is represented by Craig Nolan, Esq. Pagan is represented by the Federal Public Defenders Office. Partlow is represented by Richard Bothfeld, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy G. Fuller.