BOSTON — A federal grand jury in Boston has indicted a Providence man and a Middleboro man on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine, the U.S. attorney's office in Boston said Tuesday.

Eduardo Gomez-Santana, 50, of Providence, R.I., and Isaac Marrero, 33, of Middleboro, Mass., were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, prosecutors said. Both men were arrested and charged in September. Gomez-Santana is being held pending trial, and Marrero was released on conditions.

According to prosecutors, a cooperating witness met Gomez-Santana outside a restaurant in Pawtucket, R.I., in August and bought about 250 grams of cocaine. Before that sale, prosecutors allege, Gomez-Santana was seen meeting with a black Mercedes registered to Marrero.

On Sept. 29, prosecutors said, Gomez-Santana met the witness in a shopping plaza parking lot in Taunton, Mass., to arrange the purchase of about 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, then directed the witness to a gas station in Berkley, Mass. There, prosecutors allege, Marrero handed Gomez-Santana a bag containing about 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, which Gomez-Santana then gave to the witness in exchange for cash.

Each charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison. Because of a prior drug conspiracy conviction, Gomez-Santana faces at least 10 years and up to life, prosecutors said.

The charges are allegations, and both men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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