A Boston man has admitted guilt in a federal court in Concord for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire. Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announced that Juan Ramon Soto Baez, aged 55, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically cocaine and fentanyl. The sentencing is set for May 29, 2025, by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott.
The charges against Soto Baez were initially filed on April 26, 2023, along with charges against 20 other defendants. So far, ten individuals connected to the conspiracy have been convicted.
Court documents reveal that Soto Baez led a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire from September 2019 to April 2023. The operation utilized "dispatch" telephone lines where customers could place orders for narcotics. Soto Baez or a trusted associate would take these orders and either deliver the drugs personally or send someone else to complete the sale at a predetermined location.
Throughout the investigation period, law enforcement officials observed and documented multiple instances of drug sales conducted by Soto Baez and his associates. Upon his arrest, authorities discovered $15,000 and drug ledgers during a search of a residence linked to the conspiracy. Additionally, searches of vehicles used by the organization uncovered approximately 94 grams of fentanyl and 196 grams of cocaine prepared for distribution.
The statute under which Soto Baez was charged allows for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentencing decisions are made by federal district court judges based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) spearheaded the investigation with support from the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is handling the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at identifying and dismantling high-level criminal organizations posing threats within the United States through coordinated efforts among various agencies.
More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
