A view of the Oswald Harris Court public housing community on St. Thomas. Police have not released a mugshot in the case.
ST. THOMAS — A court-authorized search of an apartment at the Oswald Harris Court public housing community early Friday led to the arrest of a man after police say they recovered multiple unlicensed firearms, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and nearly five pounds of suspected marijuana.
According to police, officers executed a search warrant at the apartment of Carlito Soto in the early morning hours of February 6 and conducted a systematic search of the residence.
Inside the bedroom, officers reported finding a large quantity of suspected marijuana packaged in mason jars as well as large and small transparent plastic bags. The total weight of the plant material collected was 4.89 pounds, police said.
Police also reported recovering three firearms from the bedroom. One was described as a dark green Taurus .40 S&W firearm with an obliterated serial number. Officers said two additional firearms were located on a chair positioned in the center of the room. The first was identified as a black Glock 19 equipped with a full extended 31-round magazine, converted to automatic fire, and bearing an obliterated serial number. The second was a black Glock .40-caliber firearm with a 22-round extended magazine, which police said had been reported stolen in the National Crime Information Center database.
Additional ammunition was also recovered from the bedroom, including a 50-round drum of .40-caliber rounds, according to police.
Soto reportedly claimed ownership of the items found inside the apartment. He was arrested and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm with a conversion kit, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a housing community, unauthorized possession of a firearm with altered numbers, unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession of ammunition, unauthorized possession of drug paraphernalia, unauthorized possession of drugs, possession of drugs with intent to distribute, and possession of drugs with intent to distribute in a housing community.
Soto appeared Monday before Magistrate Julie Smith Todman, who found probable cause to uphold all charges. Bail was set at $182,500, with the court allowing him to post $90,000 in cash to secure his release pending trial.
If released on bail, Soto is required to check in with the probation department twice weekly, with the first visit in person and subsequent check-ins by telephone. He is also subject to a daily curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and is prohibited from using controlled substances or possessing any dangerous weapons while the case remains pending.
His next court appearance is scheduled for February 27
Advertisements
