BRONX MAN SHIPPED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF COCAINE FROM THE CARIBBEAN TO SUFFOLK COUNTY

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of defendant Raymond Soto, who is accused of Operating as a Major Trafficker for allegedly orchestrating a mail-based pipeline that flooded the streets of Suffolk County with large quantities of cocaine. Soto also faces charges for possession of drug paraphernalia.

“This defendant allegedly flooded the streets of Suffolk County with dangerous drugs. While he made calculated efforts to avoid detection, he was caught as a result of the tireless work of law enforcement,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will be relentless in our pursuit of those who distribute these deadly drugs in our county.”

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Suffolk County Police Department developed information that Soto was using the mail to import kilograms of cocaine from the Caribbean.

A review of mail records revealed that Soto, a Bronx resident, allegedly had packages sent to various locations in and around Suffolk County

The investigation revealed that soon after the packages were delivered, Soto would allegedly travel to Suffolk County and retrieve the packages himself. Soto allegedly used a vehicle equipped with a sophisticated hidden storage compartment to transport the cocaine to his Bronx apartment, where it was cut and processed for distribution.

According to the investigation, on October 28, 2022, law enforcement executed a number of search warrants. Law enforcement seized and searched a package sent from the Caribbean to Suffolk County. The search and subsequent laboratory testing revealed that the package contained a kilogram of cocaine. Law enforcement also executed a warrant on Soto’s vehicle, recovering two additional kilograms of cocaine inside the hidden compartment. That cocaine is conservatively estimated to have a retail or street value of between $240,000 and $300,000.

A review of similar shipments reveals that in the last six months alone, Soto’s operation shipped more than 20 packages to Suffolk County, many likely containing multiple kilograms of cocaine. The retail value of these packages is estimated to be more than $2 million dollars. The search of Soto’s Bronx apartment revealed that he had the packaging and cutting materials to facilitate the cutting and repackaging of his imported cocaine. As a result of defendant’s participation in this large-scale Operating as a Major Trafficker. If convicted of the top count, the defendant faces life in prison.

Soto is also charged with:

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A 1 felony;
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
• Three counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

Soto was arraigned this morning before the Honorable Richard Ambro who ordered his bail set at $2.5 million cash, $5 million bond or $50 million partially secured bond. The defendant was also ordered to surrender his passport. Soto is being represented by George Duncan, Esq. and is due back in court on January 6, 2023. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jacob Kubetz of the Narcotics Bureau.

###

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

725 Veterans Memorial Highway ● Building 77 ● Hauppauge, NY 11788 ● 631.852.3185

SuffolkCountyNY.gov/DA ● twitter.com/RayTierneyDA ● instagram.com/RayTierneyDA