LEBANON COUNTY DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 120 MONTHS

Martin C. Carlson, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that Alex Santiago, age 33, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to serve a 120-month term of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of crack cocaine. Judge Conner further ordered that Santiago serve a five-year term of supervised release and pay a $1100 fine.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Carlson, in March 2006, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lebanon County Drug Task Force commenced a joint investigation into the distribution of crack cocaine in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Through the course of the investigation, agents identified Santiago and co-defendants Herman Mercado and Julio Conde as individuals who had been involved in the distribution of crack cocaine since approximately December 2005.

On September 20, 2006, a Federal Grand Jury returned a four-count Indictment against Santiago, Conde and Mercado. Each man pleaded guilty. Both Julio Conde and Herman Mercado were sentenced previously to a 120-month term of imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Lebanon County Drug Task Force; Lebanon City Police Department and Cornwall Borough Police Department
and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.

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