A 22-year-old Burbank man who helped move fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine through the dark web is headed to federal prison. On Monday, Alejandro Soto was sentenced to 46 months behind bars and ordered to pay an $8,000 fine for his role in an online drug trafficking operation that shipped narcotics across the country, according to federal prosecutors.
MyNewsLA reports that Soto pleaded guilty in April 2025 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and admitted that he helped package and ship drugs, as well as collect proceeds from orders placed on darknet marketplaces. The outlet also notes that Burbank co-defendant Austin Blacano was previously sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison.
Investigation and arrests
The two-day takedown that brought the operation down unfolded in May 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California. Working with the DEA and FBI, investigators carried out coordinated arrests in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Prosecutors say the crew operated vendor profiles on darknet marketplaces, with some of the drug packaging handled at a Burbank residence tied to co-defendants.
Prosecutors' sentencing claims
In sentencing filings, prosecutors told the court that Soto and his co-defendants were responsible for distributing at least 80 pounds of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, along with a significant quantity of cocaine. The government warned that the enterprise operated, in its words, "in an environment where a single pill can kill," as reported by MyNewsLA.
Co-defendants and prior sentences
The alleged organizer of the operation, Brian McDonald of Van Nuys, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in October 2024 to 248 months, which is more than 20 years, for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine and possessing firearms, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Several other co-defendants have also pleaded guilty and received prison terms of varying lengths as the sprawling case worked its way through federal court.
Legal stakes
Federal law leaves little room for leniency in cases like this. Under 21 U.S.C. § 841, a conviction for drug distribution or conspiracy can translate into decades behind bars and substantial fines, depending on the drug quantities involved and the surrounding circumstances. Judges also weigh federal sentencing guidelines, a defendant's specific role in the scheme, and any links to overdose deaths when deciding how steep the punishment should be in major trafficking prosecutions.
Local context
Hoodline previously covered the original May 2024 takedown in its report on the alleged dark web drug ring bust, detailing how investigators connected darknet vendor profiles and suspicious shipments to the San Fernando Valley. The case is still generating filings and fresh developments, and we will continue tracking what happens to the remaining defendants in federal court.
