Sign In
Events
Newsletters
Search

Close

Close Search

Cancel

SEARCH
MY LAW.COMNEW

U.S. v. Santana

Early 'Compassionate' Release Mocks Gravity of 'Heinous' Murder for $1.3M in Drug Money

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

OPINION & ORDER The Court has received a pro se motion from defendant Raul Santana, seeking compassionate release from Federal Correctional Institution (“FCI”) Fort Dix, in New Jersey, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §3582(c)(1)(A). Dkt. 160 (“Def. Mtn.”). For the reasons that follow, the Court denies the motion. I. Background Santana’s offense conduct, as admitted in his guilty plea to a robbery conspiracy and cocaine distribution, and as set forth in the presentence report, (“PSR”), is briefly summarized. In 1998, Santana played a central role in a conspiracy to rob Henry Castano, a drug courier for a Mexican cartel. Castano had been expected to deliver $1.3 million in drug proceeds to Juan Rodriguez, a fellow cartel member, which Rodriguez was to pass along to others in the drug-trafficking organization. Rodriguez, however, double-crossed Castano. He contacted Santana, and the two of them organized a crew that included four other individuals to rob Castano of the drug proceeds. PSR 11. The robbery crew internally agreed that if they were unable to rob Castano before he had provided the drug proceeds to Rodriguez, they would kill Castano to protect Rodriguez from being implicated in the robbery in the eyes of the cartel. Id. 12. Alas for Castano, by the time the robbery crew reached him, on April 28, 1998, he had already relinquished the $1.3 million in cash to Rodriguez. That day, two members of the robbery crew, carrying out the plan hatched with Santana, impersonated plainclothes police officers with fake police badges, pulled over Castano’s vehicle, handcuffed him, covered his face with duct tape, and suffocated him to death in the back seat of a car during a 10-15-minute period, and dumped his body in a cemetery. Id.

Trending Stories

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

More From ALM

Premium Subscription
With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Team Accounts
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Bundle Subscriptions
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
Go to CLE Center
British Legal Awards 2024
November 27, 2024
London

Celebrating achievement, excellence, and innovation in the legal profession in the UK.


Learn More
GlobeSt. Healthcare Real Estate 2024
December 02, 2024 - December 03, 2024
Scottsdale, AZ

Join the industry's top owners, investors, developers, brokers and financiers for the real estate healthcare event of the year!


Learn More
ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Awards 2024
December 11, 2024
Las Vegas, NV

This event shines a spotlight on how individuals and firms are changing the investment advisory industry where it matters most.


Learn More
Go to Events Go to Webcasts
Associate General Counsel, Global Employment

Role TitleAssociate General Counsel, Global EmploymentGrade F13Reporting ToSenior Legal Counsel, Global EmploymentProgram/Tool/ Department/U...


Apply Now ›
Associate Attorney

Ryan & Conlon, LLP, is a boutique firm specializing in insurance defense. We are a small eclectic practice with a busy and fast paced en...


Apply Now ›
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROSECUTION PARALEGAL

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROSECUTION PARALEGAL - NEW JERSEY OR NEW YORK OFFICESProminent mid-Atlantic law firm with multiple regional office lo...


Apply Now ›
Go to Lawjobs