St. John the Baptist Parish Man Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – EDEL FREYRE-SOTO, age 54, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, was indicted on December 7, 2023, for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846, and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

For both counts, FREYRE-SOTO faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.