Florida Man Sentenced To 76 Months In Prison For Drug Conspiracy

NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida man was sentenced today to 76 months in prison for his participation in a drug distribution conspiracy operating out of a residential housing complex in East Orange, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Rafael José Santiago-Soto, 30, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to conspiring to distribute methylone, a Schedule I controlled substance. Judge Salas imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Santiago-Soto participated in a drug distribution conspiracy that spanned several months from 2012 through 2013. In March 2013, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted an investigation resulting in the seizure of more than six kilograms of methylone from an apartment leased by Santiago-Soto, which was being operated as a drug packaging mill.   

In addition to the prison term, Judge Salas sentenced Santiago-Soto to three years of supervised release. 

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

Defense counsel: Jason Foy Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey