Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Heroin and Oxycodone in Albany

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Eric Soto, age 37, of Queens County, New York, pled guilty today to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute over 800 grams of heroin, as well as Oxycodone pills, in June 2018 in Albany County.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, and Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division. 

In pleading guilty, Soto admitted that in June 2018, he travelled from New York City to the Capital Region on three occasions for the purpose of distributing both heroin and Oxycodone at various locations in the Capital Region, including in Colonie, Guilderland and Watervliet.  On June 22, 2018, Soto was arrested in the parking lot of the Crossgates Mall in possession of 583 grams of heroin and 99 Oxycodone pills, which he intended to sell.  He has remained in custody since his arrest.

Soto faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $5 million, when he is sentenced on June 11, 2020 by Senior United States District Judge Fredrick J. Scullin, Jr.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case was investigated by the DEA with assistance from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Police Departments of Colonie, Guilderland and Watervliet.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.