A Dominican national, Gregorio Gustavo DeJesus Santos, has been sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison for drug trafficking offenses involving fentanyl and heroin, as well as illegally reentering the United States after a felony conviction. The sentencing took place in Richmond, Virginia.
Court documents reveal that on January 18, 2024, a Virginia State Police trooper stopped DeJesus Santos on Interstate 85 in Mecklenburg County. During this traffic stop, a narcotics canine detected the scent of drugs. A search of the vehicle uncovered a hidden compartment beneath the passenger seat extending into the back seat area; however, it was empty at that time. Consequently, DeJesus Santos was released.
Later, upon his return to Virginia from North Carolina, law enforcement again stopped his vehicle due to a traffic violation. Once more, a narcotics canine signaled the presence of drugs. This time during their search, officers discovered two packages in the hidden compartment: one containing 200 grams of fentanyl and another with 293 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin.
In his guilty plea, DeJesus Santos admitted to obtaining and redistributing an additional three kilograms of fentanyl.
DeJesus Santos has previously been deported from the United States six times since 1996. His most recent removal occurred on October 18, 2022, following a felony drug conviction in federal court in New York's Southern District.
The announcement was made by Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher Heck from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington D.C.; and Col. Matt Hanley from Virginia State Police after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak delivered the sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Mastandrea and Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted this case.
Further details can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER under Case No. 3:24-cr-88.