Alleged Boston Drug Dealer Arrested for ID Fraud in NH

MANCHESTER, NH — A Bay State man was arrested earlier this week and held on $20,000 cash bail after allegedly being caught with drugs and a false identification after a stop in Manchester, according to police. Osvaldo David Soto Jimenez, 23, of Dorchester, was arrested on Jan. 10, 2017, for possession of controlled drug-crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of controlled drug-heroin, identity fraud, possession of false identification, and two counts unsworn falsification.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Manchester Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

At around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, detectives from the Manchester Police Special Enforcement-Street Crime Unit observed a man inside of a Jeep Cherokee reportedly “engage in suspicious activity” with another man on the passenger side of his vehicle while parked near Cedar and Maple streets, according to Lt. Brian O’Keefe of the Manchester Police Department. The passenger then left he vehicle, got in another vehicle, and left the area, according to the report.

The driver of the Jeep – Jimenez – drove away but reportedly failed to use a turn signal and was stopped on Hall Street.

“The detectives smelled a strong odor of burnt marijuana as they approached the vehicle to speak with the lone male operator,” O’Keefe alleged. “He initially identified himself through a valid, Massachusetts license.”

Jimenez was allegedly “visibly shaking and sweating” despite the cold temperatures and as he exited the vehicle, a small plastic bag that was near his lap fell onto the ground.

“Detectives identified the substance as crack cocaine, which tested presumptive positive with a field test kit,” he alleged.

A police K-9 conducted an open air search of the vehicle, “and received several hits,” so the vehicle was towed and a search warrant was completed and executed the following day. Jimenez was placed into custody and transported to police headquarters.

At headquarters, police allegedly found Jimenez to be in possession of $640 in cash.

The sergeant, O’Keefe stated, felt something was amiss with the man’s identity so he contacted another police official in Puerto Rico to see if his information and description matched the name on the license but it didn’t. The information, according to the sergeant, was allegedly fraudulently obtained.

The search allegedly yielded three bags of crack cocaine (1.1 grams), one bag of heroin (0.4 grams), and a wrapper with 0.4 grams of crack cocaine, according to O’Keefe.

Jimenez was held on $20,000 and will have a probable cause hearing on Jan. 25.