Hartford Man Charged with Narcotics and Firearms Offenses

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging ORLANDO SOTO, 27, of Hartford, with narcotics and firearms offenses.

As alleged in the indictment, on July 9, 2018, Soto possessed fentanyl and crack cocaine, which he intended to distribute, along with three handguns.  Prior to July 2018, Soto had been convicted in state court of felony narcotics, larceny and firearm offenses. 

Soto has been detained in state custody since his arrest by Hartford Police on July 9, 2018.

The indictment charges Soto with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force and the Hartford PoliceDepartment.  The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard C. Boyle and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.