Jonathan D. Ross U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Angel Lazala-Soto, a 60-year-old man from Bani, Dominican Republic, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and handed down by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller on March 5, 2026.
Lazala-Soto was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 6, 2025. He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 23, 2025. In addition to his prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. Federal law does not allow parole.
The case began when Arkansas State Police stopped Lazala-Soto’s vehicle on August 29, 2024, for following another car too closely. Troopers noted that Lazala-Soto appeared nervous and was shaking during the stop. Due to language barriers, communication took place in Spanish. Lazala-Soto initially claimed he had driven from New Jersey the previous day to see his son for lunch; however, further investigation showed he had actually traveled from Austin, Texas.
With consent to search the vehicle granted by Lazala-Soto, troopers found large duffle bags in the rear of the car and seven kilo-like bundles above the spare tire. During an interview at the police department, Lazala-Soto admitted transporting cocaine after driving from New York to Austin and meeting someone at a gas station.
Lazala-Soto’s criminal record includes a prior federal conviction from February 2009 for attempted re-entry after deportation. He received a sentence of 30 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for that offense. His record also lists felony convictions such as criminal mischief – second degree, grand larceny, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of possession of stolen property.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation with support from Arkansas State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Stacy Williams prosecuted the case.
"There is no parole in the federal system," stated U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross.
