Aldemar Soto-Charry, a 64-year-old member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. He was convicted for conspiring to distribute thousands of kilograms of cocaine intended for importation into the United States. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., DEA Special Agent Eugene L. Crouch, and FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Veltri.

Soto-Charry, also known as "El Ingeniero," pleaded guilty on October 11, 2024, to conspiracy charges involving over 500 grams of cocaine and aiding and abetting its distribution. As part of his plea agreement, he admitted his role in a FARC-led conspiracy that regularly transported over 1,000 kilos of cocaine to a Mexican cartel with the knowledge it would reach the United States.

U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta also imposed four years of supervised release following Soto-Charry's prison term.

The investigation began in 2018 when the DEA targeted large-scale drug traffickers linked to FARC in Colombia. In July 2018, the DEA discovered Soto-Charry's involvement in laundering drug proceeds through real estate investments in Panama. Confidential sources were used to engage with Soto-Charry and his associates.

In October 2018, Soto-Charry met with these sources who posed as business contacts and facilitators for drug transactions with the Mexican Gulf Cartel. During these meetings, he described FARC's operations including laundering $10 million from cocaine sales through a medical clinic project in Panama and managing cocaine processing labs in Colombia's jungles.

Between October 3, 2018, and July 25, 2019, regular meetings occurred between Soto-Charry and the confidential sources discussing logistics such as pricing and trafficking routes for large-scale cocaine deals. A five-kilogram sample was delivered as part of these negotiations.

Soto-Charry was arrested on August 8, 2019, in Colombia at the request of U.S authorities and extradited on August 8, 2024. He accepted responsibility for conspiring to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine during his plea agreement.

Co-defendants Mauricio Mazabel-Soto and Alfredo Molina-Cutiva received sentences of 73 months and 70 months respectively.

The case involved investigations by the DEA and FBI with assistance from Colombian authorities including the Dirección Especializada contra el Narcotráfico. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a significant role in securing Soto-Charry’s arrest and extradition. The prosecution team included Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Ernesto J. Alvarado with contributions from Kevin L. Rosenberg who initially handled the case.