(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Daniel Soto, 37, of Bay Shore, was indicted for Sex Trafficking and other related charges, for allegedly using violence, drugs, and manipulation to induce a victim to engage in commercial sex for his profit.
“Our office is committed to securing justice for victims of human-trafficking and ensuring that anyone exploiting others is held accountable,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The multi-agency investigation that led to this indictment demonstrates our commitment to building comprehensive trafficking cases against predators.”
According to the investigation, beginning in 2024 and continuing into 2025, Soto allegedly repeatedly arranged for buyers to engage in sexual acts with a female victim, while Soto kept all the monetary proceeds. When the victim attempted to refuse to engage in such acts at Soto’s direction, he allegedly beat her until she complied or withheld drugs from her, knowing that he could use her addiction to manipulate her.
Soto was arrested after a joint investigation was conducted by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Human Trafficking Investigations Unit, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias, and Human Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Unit.
On July 14, 2025, Soto was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis, for the following charges contained in the indictment:
- One count of Sex Trafficking (Force), a Class B violent felony;
- Two counts of Sex Trafficking, a Class B felony;
- One count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, a Class C felony; and
- One count of Promoting Prostitution in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
Justice Wilutis ordered Soto held on $500,000 cash, $3,000,000 bond or $5,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of this case. Soto is also currently being held in custody at the Suffolk County Correctional Center on unrelated and pending sexual assault charges.
Soto is due back in court on August 13, 2025, and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Cappiello of the Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias, and Human Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Unit. The investigation was conducted by Detective John Paul O’Connor of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Human Trafficking Investigations Unit, and members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative Team.