Army Reserves Private Busted in $3M Cocaine Seizure: Authorities

A private in the U.S. Army Reserves and another man are facing drug-related charges after authorities seized $3 million worth of cocaine shipped from Boston to New York City, authorities said Saturday.

Mark Soto, 23, and Xavier Herbert-Gumbs, 24, were arraigned Friday in Manhattan on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to a statement from Bridget G. Brennan, New York City's special narcotics prosecutor. Bail was set at $400,000.

Both Soto, who's in the Army Reserves, and Herbert-Gumbs live in Puerto Rico.

An ongoing investigation by state and federal prosecutors identified the pair as members of a major narcotics trafficking network. Both were arrested Thursday during traffic stops in the Bronx.

Herbert-Gumbs possessed 110 pounds of cocaine, which was pressed into brick-shaped packages, authorities said. Soto was arrested a short time later with about 26 pounds of cocaine in the trunk of his vehicle, prosecutors said. Soto's vehicle also contained an identification card with Herbert-Gumbs' name and photograph, they said.

The cocaine had been transported from Boston to New York, investigators said.

Soto's attorney did not immediately return a call for comment. An email to the Army Reserves press office for details about Soto's assignment was not immediately returned.

A number for Herbert-Gumbs' attorney went unanswered Saturday. Herbert-Gumbs' occupation wasn't immediately clear.

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