Man Sentenced In Cape Cod Pill Conspiracy: Feds

CAPE COD, MA — A man was sentenced in federal court Thursday for his role in a drug trafficking ring throughout Cape Cod and Boston. Santiago Pena, 51, brokered deals to sell fentanyl-laced counterfeit pain pills, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Pena is a Dominican national living in Roxbury with lawful permanent resident status, federal authorities said.

Pena pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in December 2017.

A lengthy wiretap investigation determined that James Ramirez, who was charged separately, supplied large amounts of fentanyl and heroin to Cape Cod-based drug dealers Alex and Kevin Fraga, according to the USAO. Ramirez sold fentanyl pills designed to look like legitimate prescription oxycodone pills, federal authorities said.

Ramirez dealt fentanyl pills in batches of 100 to other drug dealers, the USAO said. Over 2,500 fentanyl pills were found as a result of Ramirez's arrest.

Pena brokered deals on Ramirez's behalf, helping to connect Ramirez with a fentanyl pill supplier, according to authorities. On several occasions, Ramirez traded used cars for a combination of cash and fentanyl pills in deals that Pena helped arrange, authorities said.

Pena was sentenced to two years in prison and five years of supervised release. Alex Fraga pleaded guilty in August 2017, and was sentenced to 131 months in prison on June 10. Kevin Fraga and Ramirez pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8 and Oct. 1, respectively.