Lowell Man Arrested, Charged With 14 Drug, Gun Offenses

LOWELL, MA — Massachusetts state police arrested a Lowell man Wednesday and charged him with 14 gun- and drug-related offenses.

The state police's Boston Gang Unit received a tip about potential cocaine trafficking in the Lowell area in June, the police said.

The police investigated and found that Fabian Santana, 28 of Lowell, had possible associations with the Latin Kings street gang and was possibly distributing cocaine, police said.

An undercover state trooper contacted Santana and had phone calls and text conversations about potential cocaine sales.

Police with state police and Lowell police conducted "controlled purchases of both firearms and narcotics," police said.

At 6 a.m. Wednesday, police went to Santana's residence with a "knock and announce" search warrant, they said.

"This investigation resulted in the total seizure of five firearms, two of which were ghost guns, two of which are reported stolen, and one of which has an obliterated serial number," police said. "It also resulted in the seizure of approximately 1.5 pounds of suspected Marijuana, approximately 105 grams of suspected crack cocaine and powder cocaine, and approximately $2,500.00 in cash."

Santana had previously been convicted of a felony and does not have a legal right to possess guns, police said.

He was arrested and charged with the following offenses:

1. Armed Career Criminal, Third Offense;
2. Illegal Sale of 3 or more Firearms;
3. Illegal Possession of a Firearm, five counts;
4. Illegal Possession of a Loaded Firearm, five counts;
5. Illegal Possession of ammunition, five counts;
6. Possession of a Firearm after 3 Violent/Drug Crime Convictions, five counts;
7. Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device;
8. Illegal Sale of Large Capacity Feeding Device;
9. Possession of a Firearm with Defaced Serial Number in Commission of a Felony;
10. Possession of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony;
11. Distribution of a Class B Substance, two counts;
12. Trafficking Class B substance over 18 grams;
13. Distribution of a Class D Substance; and
14. Trafficking Class B substance over 36 grams.

All people are considered innocent until proven guilty.