Christian Torres-Santiago, 21, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced in federal court in Burlington to two years of probation on May 13, federal authorities say. Torres-Santiago previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base.

According to court records, in October 2022, Torres-Santiago was present at a residence in Bennington when law enforcement executed a search warrant. Among other contraband and other items found in the residence, law enforcement found in Torres-Santiago’s possession over 2,000 bags of fentanyl/heroin packaged for sale, approximately 25 grams of cocaine base, $4,400 in cash, and a Colt .45 caliber handgun, fully loaded with its serial number obliterated.

At sentencing, Judge William Sessions emphasized the gravely serious nature of Torres-Santiago’s conduct and the danger it posed to the Bennington community. He also emphasized Torres-Santiago’s young age, his lack of any prior criminal history, and that since his arrest and release in the fall of 2022, Torres-Santiago has not only complied with all pretrial supervision conditions, but also studied for, and nearly completed the requirements to obtain, a barbering license in Connecticut. 

As Sessions put it, he had “earned his freedom” by leaving the business of drug trafficking entirely and working hard to alter the direction of his life. The sentence of probation will require Torres-Santiago not to stray from this path, or, if he does, to face a resentencing on the full scope of his conduct.