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Fort Myers Beach man facing federal drug charges
Alfredo Santillana
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FORT MYERS — Alfredo Santillana, a Fort Myers Beach man arrested in Estero last year as part of one of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office undercover drug operations, is now facing a federal charge of drug trafficking.
Santillana, 40, was arrested last July after a suspect who had just been arrested on drug charges identified Santillana as a drug dealer, and authorities — including a special Drug Enforcement Administration agent — began investigating him.
According to the arrest report and the criminal complaint filed in federal court last week, law enforcement officials taped a phone conversation last summer in which Santillana agreed to sell cocaine to people who were working with law enforcement. Santillana then agreed to meet outside the Walgreens at the corner of Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41 in Bonita Springs.
Pulled over for a traffic stop in Estero on his way to the meeting, Santillana told deputies that he had been dealing cocaine for two years, and, according to the federal complaint facing him, he admitted that he had “just sold dope” on his way there.
Deputies found several kilograms worth of cocaine in Santillana’s possession, including a kilogram found under the front passenger seat of his Dodge Viper, the cocaine found inside his storage unit in Fort Myers and at his home in Fort Myers Beach. Authorities also found several hundred thousands in cash, a Jaguar parked in the storage unit and a semi-automatic pistol inside a bedroom closet.
He is facing a federal charge of possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute it.
Santillana has been scheduled to go to trial in Circuit Court in Lee County this month on charges including trafficking in more than 28 grams of cocaine, and he had been out on bond since his 2007 arrest.
But this week, following the federal complaint, a federal magistrate judge ordered that Santillana remain in custody until his trial.
According to court documents, Santillana has been unemployed for the past two years, has been living in his car for the past few weeks, has been using cocaine for 20 years and has ties outside the country.
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I wonder if he's the guy who wants to trade his Viper on Craigslist? He wants to trade his Viper for a house and this guy had been living in his car....Or, did the Feds and LCSO get the Viper too?
http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/cto/8...
#1 Posted by mothernature on August 28, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
if he was living in his car how did the find drugs and a gun in his house?? something isnt right here!
or is this one more example of NDNs wonderful reporting??
#2 Posted by SDW on August 29, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"But this week, following the federal complaint, a federal magistrate judge ordered that Santillana remain in custody until his trial."
GOOD! Keep him there, before he flees the country and returns to Colombia or where ever he's from.
#3 Posted by sock_puppet on August 29, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SDW,,,,, re- read the story. How embarrising for you.... Living in a Viper, thats got to be one unpleasant sleep, bet that jail cell is looking pretty comfy right now. Surprised his fellow dealers didnt whack him.
#4 Posted by LethaLintent on August 29, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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