Wake County Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than 10 Years for Drug and Gun Convictions
DEA stock photo: Methamphetamine
RALEIGH, N.C. – Daniel Oswaldo Santos-Soto, age 25, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Santos-Soto pleaded guilty to the charges on April 14, 2025.
According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, on August 27, 2023, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) utilized a confidential source of information to arrange a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Santos-Soto. The next day, August 28, Santos-Soto contacted the source of information and agreed to meet the source at a gas station in Spring Hope with approximately 10 ounces of methamphetamine. When Santos-Soto arrived at the meeting location, NCSO approached him, and he was detained. A K-9 was deployed on Santos-Soto’s vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. NCSO searched the vehicle and found 83.61 grams of pure methamphetamine packaged in four plastic bags. They also found an SKS rifle in the backseat of the vehicle.
Santos-Soto is an illegal alien who crossed the border from Mexico to the United States in 2017. He has been living in Wake County and had no prior criminal history until the current conduct in August 2023.
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. Agencies involved in the investigation include the NCSO and the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.
The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov. Also follow DEA Atlanta via Facebook, X and Instagram at @DEAATLANTADiv.
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