Brooklyn judge scolds drug peddler who hasn’t seen daughter in 15 years

February 12, 2018 By Paul Frangipane Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Kelvin Santos was sentenced to five years in prison at Brooklyn’s federal court (shown) for drug trafficking and money laundering. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

Share this:

Before a Brooklyn federal judge sentenced him to five years in prison for helping traffic at least 1,000 kilos of cocaine, a man pleaded the judge on Monday to think about his 16-year-old daughter in the Dominican Republic when sentencing him.

Given Kelvin Santos’ absence from his daughter’s life since 2003, and his criminal history that predates that, Judge Nicholas Garaufis didn’t think the argument held much weight.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, that is just, it’s so inconsistent with his behavior that, I mean I feel sorry for his daughter,” Garaufis said in court. “With all the money he’s been making he could have brought her here. And he didn’t do it.”

Santos pleaded guilty in December 2017 to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and money laundering, both counts of his indictment. As part of a drug organization that operated throughout New York, Santos worked as one of the right-hand men to the leader between 2011 and 2013.

Members of the organization also opened bank accounts in false names to launder money and would deposit tax return checks to buy more drugs, the judge reiterated.

One of Santos’ supporters in court crossed her fingers before Garaufis dealt the sentence that included $100,000 forfeiture.

Santos came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic to provide for his sick mother and his daughter, according to a letter written by his teen daughter.

“I would like to say that my dad has been an excellent dad and has always been in contact through the phone on a daily basis even now from prison he calls me every day and gives me his fatherly advice,” she wrote.

Garaufis said he did appreciate the letters of support and appearances of family and friends in court and he considered it all in sentencing.