Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella, State Police Colonel Nathan Noyes, and United States Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent-in-Charge Brian D. Boyle announce that yesterday Mariano Santos, age 30, of Boston, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty and was sentenced by the Belknap County Superior Court to 13–26 years stand committed in the New Hampshire State Prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.

The evidence in this case established that Santos and another individual drove to Tilton, New Hampshire, on January 29, 2021, and sold approximately 695 grams (1.53 pounds) of fentanyl to a buyer there. State Police troopers stopped the buyer after the sale, resulting in the seizure of the fentanyl, which otherwise would have likely been distributed throughout the North Country of New Hampshire.

After the January 29 sale, an undercover officer initiated contact with Santos via text messaging and arranged to purchase fentanyl from Santos in North Conway, New Hampshire. On February 12, 2021, Santos was arrested in North Conway while in possession of approximately 750 grams (1.65 pounds) of fentanyl, which he intended to sell to the undercover office.

In sum, during this investigation Santos sold or intended to sell a total of approximately 1.45 kilograms (3.19 pounds) of fentanyl.

The investigation and resolution of this case was the result of the collaborative efforts of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force, the New Hampshire State Police, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.