Three Now Charged in Scheme to Sneak Drugs into Prison

SOMERS, CT — Two inmates have been charged in a scheme to sneak drugs into a state prison, state police said.

The inmates are both Cybulski Correctional Institution. Estaban Perez was arrested on March 30 and charged with criminal attempt to sell a controlled substance and a related conspiracy charge as well as conspiracy to convey an unauthorized item into an institution, according to a warrant.

Miguel Santiago-Lopez, 23, was charged last week with criminal attempt to sell a controlled substance and a related conspiracy charge as well as attempt and conspiracy to convey an unauthorized item into an institution, according to a warrant.

A Norwich woman was previously charged with several crimes for allegedly leaving a stash of narcotics for Perez to pick up while at a work detail, a state police report indicates.

Wanda Santiago was arrested on April 1, according to police records.

Wanda Santiago is accused of driving to the state Department of Transportation highway maintenance facility in Willington and hiding the stash, according to state police records.

Miguel Lopez would eventually get the narcotics, state police said.

She hid the drugs under a rock, and Perez was to pick it up while out on a highway work detail, according to an arrest report.

Corrections officers were tipped off by phone conversations that were being monitored, according to an arrest report.
Santiago has been charged with:

• The illegal sale of a controlled substance
• Criminal attempt to sell a controlled substance
• Conveying an unauthorized item into an institution with a corresponding attempt charge
• Two counts of conspiracy

Patch File Photo