Bronx man accused of importing cocaine to be distributed in Suffolk

A Bronx man is charged with operating a drug ring that Suffolk County prosecutors included millions of dollars worth of cocaine from the Caribbean that was shipped in the mail to Long Island.

Raymond Soto, 29, was charged with operating as a major drug trafficker and criminal possession of a controlled substance after the Suffolk County district attorney and police said mail records showed he imported cocaine that was then distributed through various locations in Suffolk County.

“This defendant allegedly flooded the streets of Suffolk County with dangerous drugs. While he made calculated efforts to avoid detection, he was caught as a result of the tireless work of law enforcement,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “We will be relentless in our pursuit of those who distribute these deadly drugs in our county.”

Soto has worked as a budget analyst in the New York City mayor’s office for six years and has no criminal record. His attorney Robert Macedonio said. He said Soto denied all of the charges and had never traveled to areas like Puerto Rico or shipped cocaine.

Police initially charged Soto with possession of cocaine, but Macedonio denied he was involved in any drug trafficking operation.

“He did not ship any cocaine,” he said.

Soto was arraigned Friday morning in Suffolk First District Court where bail was set at $2.5 million cash, $5 million bond or $50 million partially secured bond. He was also ordered to surrender his passport, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors reviewed tracking slips that showed packages shipped to Suffolk County and said Soto would then retrieve the packages in a vehicle with a hidden compartment to drive cocaine to his Bronx apartment, where it was cut and processed.

Police served search warrants Oct. 28, seizing one package from the Caribbean, including a kilogram of cocaine and then found two more kilograms in a hidden compartment in Soto’s vehicle. The three kilos were estimated to be valued between $240,000 and $300,000, prosecutors said.

Authorities said similar shipments included at least 20 packages to Suffolk County, valued at more than $2 million. Police also found packaging materials in Soto’s apartment.

If convicted, Soto could face up to life in prison.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.