Mabel Francis Soto, a 70-year-old resident of Georgetown, Kentucky, was sentenced on Mar. 26 to five years in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove handed down the sentence following Soto's guilty plea.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address drug trafficking and related crimes in the region. According to court documents, Soto worked with co-defendant Taylor Burden to sell drugs from her Georgetown home.
A search warrant executed at Soto’s residence on October 19, 2022 led officers to recover over 100 grams of fentanyl pills—both whole and crushed—as well as methamphetamine intended for distribution. Authorities also seized a handgun and about $251,100 believed to be proceeds from drug sales.
Burden was previously sentenced in January 2026 to five years in prison for his involvement in the same fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Federal law requires that Soto serve at least 85 percent of her sentence before becoming eligible for release. Upon completion of her prison term, she will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
The sentencing was announced jointly by Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Louisville Field Office; and Chief Darin Allgood of the Georgetown Police Department. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Georgetown Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuting.
