RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wake County resident who entered the U.S. illegally was sentenced Monday to more than 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to methamphetamine distribution and firearm possession charges.
Daniel Oswaldo Santos-Soto, 25, received a sentence of 130 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He entered a guilty plea on April 14.
According to court records, Santos-Soto was arrested on August 28, 2023, following a controlled drug operation conducted by the Nash County Sheriff’s Office. The day prior, a confidential informant arranged a methamphetamine purchase from Santos-Soto. On the day of his arrest, he met the source at a gas station in Spring Hope with approximately 10 ounces of methamphetamine.
Deputies detained him at the scene. A narcotics K-9 unit alerted to drugs in his vehicle, leading to a search that uncovered 83.61 grams of pure methamphetamine packaged in four plastic bags, along with an SKS rifle located in the backseat.
Federal authorities confirmed that Santos-Soto crossed into the United States illegally from Mexico in 2017 and had been living in Wake County. He had no previous criminal history prior to the 2023 arrest.
The case was investigated by the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.
“Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III,” the Department of Justice said in the release.