Man Receives 50-Month Sentence for Major Cocaine Trafficking Operation

In a significant blow to drug trafficking in the region, a Philadelphia resident faces prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute vast quantities of cocaine.

NEW JERSEY – Iran Soler, 44, of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization that transported over 100 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia and New Jersey. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the sentencing on March 20, 2024, in Camden federal court under U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn.

Soler, who had previously admitted guilt to conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, engaged in extensive operations with his conspirators, utilizing commercial flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

From March 2019 to August 2020, the group executed numerous transactions to purchase multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine for cash, which were then dispatched to the U.S. mainland via overnight delivery from San Juan's U.S. Post Offices. 

The narcotics were distributed to various addresses across Philadelphia and southern New Jersey for resale by a network of drug dealers, spearheaded by a conspirator named Jose Gonzalez.

The operation signifies a substantial illicit drug movement within the region, highlighting the persistent challenge faced by law enforcement in combatting narcotics distribution networks. 

In addition to Soler's sentencing to a federal prison term, Judge O’Hearn sentenced Soler to five years of supervised release.

Jose Gonzalez, who played a key role in the resale of the cocaine within the Philadelphia area, has also pleaded guilty to his involvement in the conspiracy. He awaits sentencing scheduled for April 29, 2024, which could further impact the operational capabilities of drug trafficking organizations in the region.

This case was a culmination of collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, the New Jersey State Police, and the Philadelphia Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Askin represented the government in this pivotal case, reinforcing the legal framework's role in addressing and penalizing organized drug trafficking activities.