Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell Guilty Plea

DELHI – District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced today that Richard Santiago, 39, of Unadilla, NY, pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Possession with Intent to Sell, a Class D Felony, on December 23, 2024. 

The defendant appeared in Delaware County Court on December 23, 2024, for a conference on his pending case. After the conference, the defendant pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree- Possession with Intent to Sell, a Class D Felony.  This charge satisfied allegations that the defendant possessed a narcotic drug, in the Village of Sidney on December 11, 2023.  

This guilty plea was entered as part of a negotiated disposition wherein it is anticipated that the defendant will be sentenced to 3 years in state prison, to be followed by 1 year of post-release supervision. The defendant was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility pending final sentencing. 

District Attorney Smith commended the New York State Police Investigator Patrick Finn for his thorough investigation into this case.  “It permitted us to secure a guilty plea and state prison sentence without a trial.” stated Smith. “I will continue to partner with law enforcement to remove dangerous drug dealers from our communities and to ensure that every person selling drugs in our County is held accountable.”

Sentencing is scheduled for February 25, 2025. 

As are all defendants, this defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.