Latest news with #SotoBaez
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Massachusetts leader of ‘large-scale' drug trafficking ring pleads guilty in New Hampshire
The Massachusetts leader of a 'large-scale' drug trafficking ring has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack said Wednesday. Juan Ramon Soto Baez, 55, of Boston, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord on Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely, cocaine and fentanyl, McCormack said in a statement. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for May 29. On April 26, 2023, Soto Baez was charged along with 20 other defendants. To date, 10 defendants have been convicted. According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Soto Baez was the leader of a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire, particularly Manchester, between September 2019 and April 2023. The organization was 'run like a business,' operating 'dispatch' telephone lines where customers could call in to order drugs, prosecutors said. Soto Baez or another person working for him would take customer orders on the phone, and then he would either deliver the order himself or send a runner to conduct the drug sale at an arranged meeting location, prosecutors said. Between September 2019 and April 2023, law enforcement agents saw and recorded Soto Baez and his associates selling fentanyl and cocaine on 19 occasions, prosecutors said. On the day of Soto Baez's arrest, investigators searched a home associated with the drug ring and found $15,000 and drug ledgers, prosecutors said. A search of a vehicle used by the drug trafficking ring yielded roughly 94 grams of fentanyl and 196 grams of cocaine packaged in small baggies for distribution. Soto Baez faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1 million. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Leader of Manchester drug trafficking ring pleads guilty in federal court
Feb. 19—A Boston man pleaded guilty this week in federal court in Concord to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack said. Juan Ramon Soto Baez, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (cocaine and fentanyl). U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for May 29. On April 26, 2023, Soto Baez was charged along with 20 other defendants. To date, 10 defendants involved in the conspiracy have been convicted. According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Soto Baez was the leader of a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire, particularly Manchester, between September of 2019 and April of 2023. Prosecutors said the organization was run like a business, operating "dispatch" telephone lines where customers could call in to order narcotics. Soto Baez or a member of the drug trafficking ring working for him would take customer orders on the phone, then either deliver the order himself or send a runner to conduct the drug sale at an arranged meeting location. When Soto Baez, known on the streets as "Ricky," was charged, former Manchester police chief Allen Aldenberg called it the largest drug takedown in the department's history. The investigation was conducted in coordination with the Boston Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI. At least three Manchester police officers were assigned to the case. The investigation included surveillance and more than 50 undercover purchases. Between September 2019 and April 2023, law enforcement agents observed and recorded Soto Baez and his co-conspirators selling fentanyl and cocaine on 19 occasions, prosecutors said. On the day of Soto Baez's arrest, a search of a residence associated with the drug trafficking ring yielded $15,000 and drug ledgers. A search of a vehicle used by drug traffickers yielded roughly 94 grams of fentanyl and 196 grams of cocaine packaged in small baggies for distribution. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
