Mario Santana
Life in prison
Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine
On August 4, 1994 I had a trial before a judge and
was found guilty of 'possession with intent to deliver over 650
grams of cocaine.' I was sentenced to life without parole.
My case began on January 24, 1994 when I was asked by a friend
to take him to a McDonald's restaurant. He said he had to take
something to a friend, and he was paying me to give him a ride.
I had no knowledge of what he had in the package and what he
was going to do. When he noticed that we were being followed,
he jumped out of the car and ran. I was arrested. I am Hispanic
and was not fluent in English. One of the arresting officers
was my interpreter and wrote the statements that I signed. I
was the only one charged even though the package was not mine,
did not have my fingerprints and was found outside the vehicle.
I miss my daughters, and I regret my decision to give that friend
a ride. I am paying with the rest of my life for my mistake.
I can't be part of my daughters' life; I won't be there for their
graduations, for their fifteenth birthday or for any special
event in their lives. What hurts the most is that I'm paying
for something that was not mine.
All there is for me are these walls and my faith in God. I also
have my fiancé who is standing by my side one hundred
percent and is willing to be my wife even though she doesn't
know if we will ever have the opportunity to be together.
Thank you for caring and keeping my hopes high and alive.
Mario Santana 238893
Macomb Regional Facility
34625 26 Mile Rd
New Haven, MI 48048
Back to the Wall
Next Prisoner of the War
on Drugs
