On February 19, 2025, Juan Ramon Soto Baez, a 55-year-old Boston man, pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to conspiracy charges related to distributing fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott has scheduled his sentencing for May 29, 2025.
Soto Baez, also known by the street name “Ricky,” was the leader of a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization that operated across New Hampshire, especially in Manchester, between September 2019 and April 2023. In April 2023, Soto Baez was charged along with 20 other individuals, and to date, 10 defendants have been convicted for their involvement in the operation.
The investigation, which was a coordinated effort between the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the Boston Police Department, and local authorities, was heralded as one of the largest drug busts in Manchester’s history. On 19 separate occasions between September 2019 and April 2023, law enforcement agents recorded Soto Baez and his associates engaging in the sale of fentanyl and cocaine.
On the day of his arrest, agents found $15,000 in cash and drug ledgers at a property linked to the trafficking ring. Further investigations also revealed 94 grams of fentanyl and 196 grams of cocaine in a vehicle associated with the organization, both ready for distribution.
The federal charges against Soto Baez carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. His guilty plea marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and its impact on New Hampshire communities.
