Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – EDEL FREYRE-SOTO (“FREYRE-SOTO”), age 54, a resident of Laplace, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 18, 2025, to conspiracy to possess, and possession with intent to distribute, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) and 846, as well as 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) before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
For each of the 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.
According to court documents, on September 10, 2023, members of the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office seized 69 kilograms of cocaine from FREYRE-SOTO at his residence in Laplace, LA. Continued investigation by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed that FREYRE-SOTO conspired with co-conspirators to conduct large-scale cocaine transactions utilizing a boat off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. On March 19, 2024, Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized 85 kilograms of cocaine from a co-conspirator’s residence in Laplace that had been smuggled in through the Grand Isle marina.
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 Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit.