LEGAL DEFENSE FUND And FAMILY FUND.
My prayer is not to be fatigued into compliance for a "Wrongful conviction" due to lack of funding, and $$money for my injured family.
Money needed for my on-going legal defense for Self Defense for the defense of others for Postconviction remedy now in court for Fall of 2025.
Already won (not guilty)before the MN. Clemency Review Commission and won before the MN. State Board of Pardons under mitigating circumstances. Money also for badly needed funding for my family because of the irreparable damage caused by a rogue police drug informant manufacturing crime to stay out of jail and get high that was out of control. (see photos below)
7/9/2025 Update: Michael Soto recently received a favorable 5/3 decision before the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission with more evidence of witnesses for innocence to grant Pardon, and now has won his case before the three member State Board of Pardons in 9 July 2025, for not being guilty of assault, but innocent for Self-Defense (for others) while on active duty. To also bring this injustice back into the MN. Courts again with more witnesses and evidence for exoneration from a wrongful conviction by Post Conviction Remedy petition. This fight is not over just yet. Exhausted financially on vet. benefits. Please help me for Attorney fees, court costs, and Private Investigator $$$.
Despite the positive outcome, Michael Soto has long decided to seek justice for the wrongs done to him and his family and Community by getting the truth out and proving it with more evidence and witnesses coming forward.
MIKE'S STORY:
Michael Soto spent six years in State prison after being wrongfully convicted for protecting his family and community from the misconduct of a corrupt and violent police drug informant manufacturing crime for his own purposes to satisfy his habit for dope and stay out of jail, that ended up being a summary judgement for conviction by a court denying Mike due process to present witnesses and evidence in his favor to exonerate him, in order to cover up gross police misconduct by giving informant Immunity under color of law.
The very thing Michael Soto was fighting against overseas as a former U.S. Navy SEABEE with SEAL TEAM 8 in Panama, was happening to his young family in his own backyard, and upon the community at large at home, by the misconduct of rogue informants fueling this drug epidemic for dope and money while under police protection to stay out of jail, resulted in loss of control of these Informants that created more addicts that was destroying the community with drug violence.
The story of what happened to Petty Officer Third Class Michael (Mike) Soto and his family on May 13, 1994, at the hands of the local government’s vigilante fight with informant misconduct in the war on drugs was complex and a real travesty by lumping in (implicating) innocent citizens with guilty criminal informants being addicts themselves as an answer to this meth epidemic. All in the name of production line prosecution for the innocent and the guilty that only fueled this drug epidemic with more violence and manufacturing more drug addicts being forced on innocent Citizens (kids), that only further alienated police and citizens from each other out of fear!
Mike's wrongful conviction also resulted for being grossly misrepresented for any defense for Self- Defense (for others) by Michael Soto's attorney, who also had conflict of interest issues with the Judge.
And compounded by Mike's due process repeatedly violated for Informant Identity Immunity under color of law to cover up Informant misconduct and police misconduct.
As a result Mike's due process by right could not present any evidence for his innocence because of Informant identity immunity, an outrageous Constitutional injustice.
This color of law for Informant immunity is now changed in MN. State v. Dexter, "Police are now held accountable when their informants incriminate them". And is now the reason for Mike to initiate application for Pardon with new witnesses coming forward along with his preserved evidence unlawfully suppressed at trial for Informant immunity. Now being brought forward by Post Conviction Remedy Petition back in State Court again for fall 2025.
However, in the past Michael Soto lost his case at trial before it even started due to this underground law for Informant immunity later found to be Unconstitutional by the MN. Supreme Court. in which he had no recourse in the courts. With recourse again now back before the MN. Courts via Postconviction Petition via winning before the Pardons Board, by law, to assess evidence not otherwise assessable in a court of law for innocence. And as a first step with new evidence and witnesses coming forward finally won his case before the MN. Clemency Review Commission also.
Mike found himself to be an anomaly between the State and Federal governments. What the Federal Military promoted him for doing the State criminalized him for. The military refused to prosecute (court martial) Mike at State request, knew it was an injustice, for what by Federal law he was supposed to be able do by duty in the first place!
Mike Soto was on Active Duty with the Navy who was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 6 years when this mob attack and injustice happened.
After Mike had unknowingly broke up an unlawful police drug sting at his home after his wife became addicted to meth by this Informant stalking his wife abusing his children, who was also a predatory police drug informant "double-dipping" for dope and money while committing assaults and crimes for his own purposes and stay out of jail by police protection, only herein referred to as the "Informant" to protect his identity but not his criminal behaviors that incriminate the police by lawful evidence recently brought forward with more witnesses.
The "Informant", a large belligerent man and repeat felon with a track record through 3 States since 1984, and opportunist, tried to take over Mike Soto's home by stalking his family while Mike was in the Military to make it into a police drug house , to sell dope, get high, and stay out of jail under color of law, and converted Mike's attic into a meth lab to sell to unsuspecting local West 7th Street addicts and small time drug dealers for police stings. This outrage and manufactured crime and forced entry into Mike's home all happened while Mike Soto was away serving his country overseas fighting the drug war in Panama.
In late 1993, Mike Soto was a 35 year old married father of four and Navy Seabee. He was stationed in Panama as a front line military equipment mechanic in support of the U.S. Navy Seal Team 8 in America’s war on drugs. Mike served honorably and was respected by his peers. He was depended upon greatly for maintaining mechanical military combat equipment to meet the mission, and also for his combat support and training for his Unit.
Mike was not unlike a lot of married recruits on overseas deployments away from their families for extended periods of time and having to juggle life's challenges. This was especially the case for Mike and his family when the "war on drugs" came to Mike's doorstep" by the duly constituted civil authority fueling this meth. epidemic with rogue vigilante informant misconduct. A stressor confusion for Mike, when his Unit was trying to keep this drug epidemic out of the United States the local authority were fueling this drug epidemic at home (Community).
When Mike deployed to Panama in 1992, his wife and four children were happily living in a paid for home in a considerably safe community in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Everything changed in early 1993 when Mike was not home and a methamphetamine national epidemic now swept through the West 7th Street neighborhood where's Mike's family lived that police did not know how to deal with.
In November of that same year, Mike Soto received notification from the Red Cross sent to his command in Panama by his cousin Rick Koenen that Mike's home burned down.
At first, Mike Soto didn't know what to make of the tersely written Red Cross message. His first thought, was it retaliatory Panamanian drug cartels who tried to burn down his home or was it the work of local St. Paul gangs or drug dealers. It was made worse when there was no immediate way to reach his wife or close friends for answers. Mike Soto suddenly found himself desperately needed by both his family, and his Navy unit being short handed disrupting their mission (Federal Function) for any emergency in the world.
Mike was subsequently able to reach his cousin Rick Koenen who told Mike that his St. Paul home had nearly burned down and there were threats against his family. Rick, an army vet and 7 years older than Mike, warned him about a recent methamphetamine outbreak in his St. Paul neighborhood. Rick was a biker and familiar with most of the people living in that St. Paul community. Rick did not like what had become of his neighborhood when it seemed all of a sudden methamphetamine epidemic outbreak was everywhere, and Rick being connected with the streets seen first hand how it was being fueled by the police with addicts and informants.
Rick told Mike that a vehicle belonging to a well known police drug informant had been parked in front of Mike's St. Paul home on Duke Street as well as in front of other homes on Mike's cul-de-sac area, trying to sell his police dope. Rick described him as the same large, violent predatory drug addict that everyone knew to be a police drug informant. Rick was concerned that Mike's wife was caught up in the drug epidemic herself. Rick even tried to talk to Mike's wife while Mike was overseas and saw right away that she had given herself over to the drug at which time Rick alerted Mike about the situation back home.
Mike was well aware that his wife rarely drank alcohol, but occasionally dabbled with recreational drugs like marijuana in the past, however, it was never around the children and she only indulged with friends. In Mike's mind, his wife used drugs to combat loneliness and the recent passing of her father from cancer.
With the recent news about the methamphetamine outbreak, Mike immediately expressed his concerns about his wife's possible accelerated drug use to his commanding officer. With Mike's unit already shorthanded, his commanding officer instructed him to go home and "deal with this." In case his unit was being targeted for their families by terrorists or drug lords or anything else in Mike's mind, gather intelligence and then report back what happened?
Before Mike deployed back to the states, his command required him to watch videos on the extreme dangers of methamphetamine use and how it damages human DNA, this drug made anyone unsalvagable Mike was sent home on emergency leave shortly after with instructions to assess the situation and immediately report back. Mike's unit took up a donation to cover some of his expenses before he left.
What Michael Soto discovered when he returned home stress shocked him and the subsequent chain of events changed his life forever.
In November of 1993, while home on emergency leave, Mike found that his family's home had been rendered unlivable by the house fire. As it turned out, according to the Fire Marshall, the house fire was a result of Mike's two year old daughter accidentally igniting chemicals in the attic with a chair, used to manufacturer methamphetamine, which exploded and blew a hole into the roof. Fortunately, Mike's daughter had suffered no lasting physical damage from the blast, but was greatly traumatized by this event also.
Mike came home to what was left of his family's home after it had been turned into a meth lab fire. To top it off, the police "Informant," and his drug addicted cohorts turned Mike's wife into a methamphetamine addict and turned Mike's home into a drug house to manufacture methamphetamine to later sell to unsuspecting buyers in front of Mike's children. Mike's traumatized two year old daughter was also physically abused by the "Informant". She has suffered throughout her life as a result of her (and her siblings) exposure to this person (drug informant misconduct) who fueled this Meth. epidemic with violence while under police protection.
Mike continued to receive additional information from family and friends about the tactics used by the "Informant" and his drug dealer friends. While Mike was stationed in Panama, the "Informant" saw an opportunity to exploit Mike's wife who was home alone with four children. The "Informant" often showed up unannounced at Mike's home to stay in close contact with Mike's wife and her group of meth using friends. It was also said that the "Informant" predator made sexual advances towards Mike's wife while providing her with meth. When the advances didn't work, the "Informant" predator then tried to befriend Mike's four kids by offering to become a big brother to them. This was another way he used to manipulate Mike's family to ultimately invade his home to manufacture and sell meth to entrap his victims. All the while so that the "Informant" could continue to "double-dip" to fuel his own habit, use drugs and stay out of jail himself, while committing crimes that further terrorized his dependents.
Before Mike began his three day search for his family, he first met up with his cousin Rick who sent the Red Cross message. When they met at the neighborhood bar, Mike saw that the Meth epidemic had gotten so bad that two bar patrons were seen snorting meth on the bar top. It was like the meth epidemic in St. Paul popped up over night, it was everywhere!
Mike and Rick eventually found his wife residing in a hotel room with their four children. She was hopelessly hooked on methamphetamine given to her by "Informant" as well as other police informants and drug addicts.
Mike immediately made efforts to repair what he could of his home and enroll his wife into drug treatment. This was met by multiple threats made against him by the "Informant" and other known West 7th Street drug addicts for interfering with their drug activity that now involved Mike's wife. Some of the threats against Mike involved drive by's and unannounced visits by the "Informant" wherever Mike was. Mike had been confronted several times by drug dealers in the "Informants" inner circle who tried to physically assault Mike on the street (see photo) that Mike quelled and fought off out of a continued self defense for himself and others.
Mike tried to involve the local Police and report the "Informant's" drug dealing activities and threats made against him, but the police were no help and indifferent, police refused to help. Moreover, the police only answer was to ask Mike for his help to find meth addicts as low level dealers to buy (police) drugs so that he could earn $50 per arrest by becoming a drug addict himself with immunity for misconduct. Mike could not believe what he was hearing. It was like the local police department was fueling the Meth. epidemic in the name of the war on drugs with vigilante informant misconduct.
Mike already had a job with the U.S. Navy, as a Navy Seabee in support and defense of the United States against this drug epidemic that his command did counter drug operations and drug interdiction, and that he does not work for them! Absolute confusion for Mike's untreated Stressors.
With pressure coming at Mike from all sides, a drug addicted wife, a drug crazed addicted predatory police "Informant" and other drug addicts and informants hanging around and making threats and trying to assault Mike, he felt hopeless and alone against everyone who only had their own best interests in mind, even the police. The pressure of having left his unit in Panama and being alienated from his command also weighed heavy. Mike felt truly alone and was deeply stressed with untreated Stressors, but held it together being alienated from his command as he was trained to do.
On one occasion while Mike was attempting to repair his home while on emergency leave, he was met face to face with the intoxicated "Informant" who told Mike to quit interfering with his drug deals (involving Mike's wife). The "Informant" even had the audacity to ask Mike himself to help sell drugs to make money rather than working against the "Informant." Mike told the "Informant" to get the hell out of his house and which time a brief scuffle ensued. The "Informant", being a large muscular man at 6' 4" and 250 lbs., approached Mike at which time Mike picked up a child's dresser and fought off the "Informant" who refused to leave his property. The "Informant" eventually left, but made death threats and said he'd have Mike "thrown in prison" under color of law if Mike interfered further so he could not "Double Dip". This confirmed to Mike that this was Informant and police Misconduct.
Mike eventually moved his family out of the hotel and into an apartment on Smith Avenue near the St. Paul High Bridge.
In December 1993, before Mike could enroll his wife in drug treatment, his emergency leave was up and he had to return to his unit in Panama to report back to work and (report his findings) for Naval Intelligence.
Meanwhile, knowing that Mike had returned to duty overseas, The "Informant" and his cohorts took this opportunity to move back in and continue to stalk Mike's wife and kept her hooked on meth. and terrorize his family.
After Mike returned to his command in Panama, he requested command sponsorship to help move his family into military housing; however, Mike was denied due to his low rank.
By this time, Mike was under tremendous untreated stress with the constant worry over his wife and children back home being stalked and terrorized, and trying to meet the Navy's mission was next to impossible.
After Mike's superior's saw that Mike's situation had gotten worse, Mike tried to explain that his family's situation back home was hopeless and that the "Informant" had his wife deeply addicted meth and to what extent, was anyone's guess. Mike felt his and his families lives were all in danger after his last confrontation with the "Informant." And Mike's presence at home would probably get his children and wife murdered.
When it became apparent to Mike's command that Mike was not himself and sent him to Army doctors, and he had great difficulty focusing on his job, the Navy decided to reassign him closer to home. Mike pleaded with his superior's not to send him back as he feared the worse, but Mike's command gave him written Federal stateside reassignment orders and Oral Orders to face the threats against him and his family, and was told to deal with this!
Even though Mike's unit was short handed, they made an exception given Mike's stellar service.
The Navy reassigned Mike stateside at a Navy recruitment office called NRD (Navy Recruitment District) in Minneapolis, Minnesota under Federal TAD (Temporary Active Duty) orders.
Even though Mike was now under TAD orders in Minnesota, he was still a part of his Navy Seal Team 8 Unit, but was only on loan to the NRD office to be close to his family, to deal with this as peacefully as possible, in order to salvage his family and home as Ordered.
In January 1994, Mike returned stateside under his new Federal (TAD) orders to work out of the recruitment office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mike was instructed by the Navy to carry out his orders peacefully and sort out his family's situation as quickly as possible so that he could return back as quickly as possible to his command in Panama being short handed for their Federal Function.
Mike was ultimately grateful for the Navy to allow him to go home, but was gravely concerned for himself and his family's personal safety. Mike had no idea how to go about remedying his damaged home and family. Mike's untreated stress had gotten so bad, that leaving it all behind crossed his mind while he was in panama seeing doctors, because his job was all he had left in life.
As time went on, it was becoming more clear to Mike why exactly his family, namely his wife, was being targeted by a hopelessly addicted predatory police drug informant and other St. Paul addicts and drug dealers and informants. Mike's wife was targeted by the "Informant" for the convenience of using their St. Paul home to manufacturer and sell methamphetamine to unsuspecting buyers at Mike's home. This also allowed the "informant" to continue to use drugs and stay out of jail by snitching on local drug dealing activity for his own purposes to the police in order to "Double Dip" for dope and money and stay out of jail.
Remembering what Mike's command instructed him to do upon returning home was to resolve the matter as peaceably as possible and not harm anyone. Mike took to figuring out a plan to repair his home and get his wife into drug treatment as soon as possible to keep the peace while hiding from Informant(s) with his children to protect them.
In April 1994, Mike moved his family again into an upstairs unit of a duplex on Richmond Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. The "Informant" found out Mike returned stateside and continued to stalk Mike's wife and family at their new address.
On one occasion when Mike was walking down the sidewalk near his duplex, a St. Paul Police squad car rolled up and detained him to question him if he was Mike Soto and if he was AWOL from the Navy. Mike was surprised they had situational awareness of the fact the police knew his name and the military fact he was in the U.S. Navy carrying out this Federal Function for his Orders. Mike replied by stating that his name was Mike Soto and that he was not AWOL but rather home on Federal (TAD) Orders. Shortly after this happened, the police received a call over the radio and drove off. Mike's first impression was, the "Informant" predator told the police where he was and the police gave the informant police intelligence about Mike being Federal Military for further terrorization.
It was becoming more apparent that the "Informant" was hell bent on destroying Mike's relationship with his wife and family so that he could continue to use his wife to make drug arrests to stay out of jail and use drugs himself. This was the "informant's misconduct" for motes of operandi or at least this was his motes of operandi to this point.
With Mike now stationed stateside at NRD, he made progress getting his wife into drug treatment and found a rental home for his family in a duplex on Richmond Street in St. Paul, Minnesota, near his burned out home, while trying to remodel and repair it all while being vandalized by looters was problematic, with local Gov't. weaponized against him to stop repair of his home also. An injustice by the duly constituted civil authority.
On that fateful day on Friday, 13, MAY 1994, the "Informant" and Mike Soto met again in the front yard of Mike's Richmond Street duplex, and this time, it did not go as planned for the "Informant when he attacked to kill Mike, to try to force a drug deal (a crime) while trying to lump innocent people into their crime(s) with violence." The informants and their misconduct with their drugs were the only criminals here that day.
It was a warm spring Friday afternoon with neighbors outside on their porches and decks. Some neighbors were having yard sales. That afternoon, Mike had some of his brothers and close friends over for some beer and barbecue. Mike's children were playing in the front yard. Mike felt tense about the possibility of seeing the "Informant", but could no longer live his life in fear of this individual, as well as some of the other drug dealers now known to be supplying most of the area's of St. Paul neighborhoods with meth. Mike kept the peace.
The police ultimately learned and used Mike's small gathering of close family and friends to force an undercover drug deal in hopes of catching as many people as they could lump in for this, the innocent along with the guilty under color of law, even though there were no drugs anywhere at or near Mike's home (other than what the "Informant(s)" brought with them to try and force a dope deal against any objections Mike had against this crime(s).
With Mike's wife finally in drug treatment, it wasn't long before the "Informant(s)" and their drug using friends showed up at Mike's home to cause more trouble and retaliate for Mike's interference against them to manufacture dope crimes against his wife by putting her in treatment, as well as being set upon the Community at large fueling this Meth. epidemic, being too lucrative for them to quit. Mike anticipated this being Federal Military, and just like any other peace officer secured a small firearm to protect himself and his family, and other innocent Citizens there, for a just in case scenario.
In the afternoon hours, a pick up truck pulled up and parked in Mike's driveway. Mike recognized the man behind the steering wheel as one of the many drug dealers associated with his wife and her drug using friends. The driver kept asking to talk to Mike's Wife. Mike said his wife was not home. The driver got out of his truck and opened the drivers door and folded the front seat forward and revealed 10 or more brick sized packages of meth in the back seat in plain sight of Mike and his brother Pat. The driver said, "I just got back from Florida, I got $6000 dollars, a tan and dope to sell." The driver placed his seat back and closed the passenger door and stood next to his vehicle for a moment. The driver kept asking for Mike's wife and he was told she was not there with no explanation given. He was told to leave, but instead he said his truck was broken down and then walked over to the liquor store across the street. He also told Mike's bother Pat, that he was going to buy some beer and call the known "Informant."
Soon after, a car pulled into the driveway and parked behind the first pickup truck. It was another drug user who was there to purchase meth from the first guy. Suddenly Richmond Street became filled with several unfamiliar individuals some of which appeared to be watching Mike's home. It was like a flash mob had started to form and when Mike walked over and asked the second man to leave, all hell broke loose.
What happened next can best be described as nothing short of a riot after the "Informant" drove up in a vehicle from the St. Paul police department impound lot, high and drunk, and ran over Mike's 4 year old daughter in his front yard
Two other vehicles along with the "informant" raced down the street to Mikes house. The "Informant" drove the police impound vehicle without a valid Minnesota drivers license, no insurance, four outstanding warrants for his arrest (never arrested), drunk and high on meth. The other two unidentified drivers were parked in the cul-de-sac near Mike's home.
With the driveway blocked by the pickup and car, the "Informant" while high and drunk drove over the curb at a high rate of speed onto Mike's front yard and ran over Mike's four year old daughter on her bike. Several people were overheard shouting "he ran over that little girl."
The incident happened so fast, Mike thought the "Informant" had killed his daughter. Several witnesses in the immediate area including two sister's residing in the lower unit of the duplex saw what happened to Mike's daughter and ran to her aid. Both sisters provided eye witness accounts in the form of affidavits which were reviewed by the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission that Mike won for Pardon. Since this time additional witnesses have been found with more are yet to come, that they assaulted Mike and his family at their home, the Informant(s) were the criminals.
The belligerent "Informant' got out from behind the steering wheel of his car laughing and visibly intoxicated while holding an open can of beer in his right hand. He walked up to Mike and poked Mike in the chest with the hand that held the can of beer. The "Informant" told Mike he should be making money selling drugs like him. At this time, Mike slapped the can of beer out of his hand poking him in the chest, and told the "Informant" that he had just run over and killed his daughter. The "Informant" was very intoxicated and cared more about his wasted beer than the child he just ran over.
Then the "Informant" became violent and placed his car keys between his knuckles for Brass Knuckles and swung at Mike in a vicious effort to cut open Mike's neck artery, face, and stick into his temple, Mike fought this off twice(2x). The "Informant," with his large frame attacked and tried to kill Mike, but Mike managed to fight him off twice in an effort to quell the situation peacefully. With an ongoing riot suspected of containing police detectives monitoring and fueling a drug buy at Mikes home, the 'Informant" along with the mob moved against Mike as if they wanted to kill him, all while beating up his brother Pat, that his 12 year old son fought off with his brother Pat. Mike fought off the Informant twice(2x) who now got up off the ground to kill Mike with a mob attack, to hold him, to beat Mike to death. At this time, Mike was left with no choice but to use his 9 mm weapon to defend himself and others and quell this, and disperse this lawlessness. The weapon he had secured for just this occasion, also being active duty Federal Military just like any other Peace officer Federal or State by Federal (Military) Law.
Meanwhile, the riot escalated on Mike's street when Mike's two brothers, son and bystanders were attacked by unidentified individuals and by two plain clothes police officers. There was a lot of confusion with so much chaos taking place by so many people at once especially after they saw Mike's daughter just get run over and mass fighting ensued.
The "Informant" then ran up and physically attacked Mike by swinging at his neck and temple with car keys sticking out between his fingers like sharp brass knuckles. With adrenaline pumping and fearing for his life, Mike was able to avoid being hit by the 6'4" man who tried to seriously injure or kill him. Mike was at his breaking point after seeing his daughter get run over by the "Informants" car and beating up his brother also. Mike continued to fight off the "Informant" three times and each time the mob moved closer towards Mike in his front yard. In an effort to quell the violence, Mike decided to use his gun stuck in his waistband behind his back and shoot the "Informant" in his upper right leg breaking his femur and immobilizing him to disperse this drug mob attack of absolute lawlessness. This Informant was trying to kill for dope, would kill for his habit. One of the "Informant's" drug dealing friends ran up into the yard and pulled the wounded "Informant" over to the boulevard and attended to him. Didn't care about Mike's 4 yr. old daughter.
While this was all taking place, one of the sister's living in the lower unit who ran over and reached under the "Informant's" car and pulled Mike's daughter out from underneath the front of the vehicle. Luckily, she did not go under the wheels, but suffered red marks and bruises all over her arms and chest that compounded her traumas from this informant.
Mike's brother Pat got beat up by one of the undercover policeman monitoring the drug buy trying to lump him into their crimes that he was also trying to stop. Mike Jr, not knowing who any of these people were, ran over to help Pat and knocked the undercover policeman down to the ground. Another suspected plain clothes police officer joined the fight. The unidentified man on the ground yelled "I'm a cop, I'm a cop." Both men left, but before departing one of the men said, "we were never here, this never happened." Police looking for a way out after their informant(s) were running them by "Double Dipping" that Mike and Pat suspected?
Mike ran over to check on his crying daughter in neighbor's Tony and Shannon Lofstrom arms with her sister Elizabeth (heroes) to examine her injuries. After seeing that she was ok, Mike left his young daughter with his brother Pat, who told Mike to get out of here, because they were going to kill Mike. And then Pat kept monitoring the child for signs of a concussion. Mike was concerned the ambulance and police were more concerned with the "Informant" than his daughter. Mike felt his kids safety was in jeopardy had he been found at home or at the hospital with the police soon looking for him to kill him on sight.
The riot quelled and dispersed, to this day many of the individuals at the scene were never identified, and police refused to investigate these critical pieces of information for misconduct and / or self defense.
Mike, still horrified filled with this outrage and uncertainty for this lawlessness, left the scene and disposed of the gun. He eventually retained an attorney and only then turned himself in to the police three days later to try an resolve this peacefully, in a court, and not be murdered to cover this misconduct up. Mike felt what they called an investigation was to murder him to shut him up. And if they could not kill him was to wrongfully convict him to shut him up under color of law in a court.
This fact was brought up at Mike's trial to prove the "Informant's connection to the police department as an undercover drug informant; however, this fact was quickly suppressed by the court in an effort to cover up police misconduct. The court granted the "Informant" identity protection immunity which over-road Mike's Federal immunity granted to him under the supremacy Clause in Article 6 Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, a serious injustice, (This Federal law was created to protect police and military personnel against rogue states trying to criminalize them for doing their jobs). Mike's attorney argued that this was a flagrant violation of due process for Mike to Constitutionally bring forward witnesses and evidence in Mike's favor. The judge took Mike's attorney into the judges chambers and it was at that is time, the courts made an admission that the "Informant" was indeed a police informant and they wanted to protect his identity as a blanket immunity to suppress all Mike's evidence and witnesses for his innocence. The court threatened Mike's attorney to disciple or disbar him to suppress Mike's defense even over repeated objections in open court and in camera.
Since then, the Minnesota Supreme Court changed this underground law to make police accountable when their informants incriminate themselves and the police (State V Dexter). This 2020 ruling made it possible for Mike to seek an application for pardon through the newly formed Minnesota Clemency Review Commission (which is the first phase of a two-part process). Mike won this and passed with a 5/3 vote at the Clemency Review Commission hearing on August 2, 2024.
The Minnesota Board of Pardon's will meet again in 9 July 2025 to hear Mike's case again to vote for his pardon which Mike won! And now to bring a Post Conviction Remedy Petition in Fall of 2025.
The US Navy with situational awareness refused to prosecute Mike even though Ramsey County wanted Mike court-martialed. The Navy refused and instead promoted Mike to CM3 Petty Officer 3rd Class and received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy, and gave Mike an Active Duty Card for six years to fight this through supposedly fair MN. State Courts. The Navy could plainly see the injustice that was carried out against Mike while on Active Duty. Especially when they wanted to shoot Mike on sight before the Navy could talk to him, now it was evident they wanted to wrongfully convict Mike under color of law to cover up their police and informant misconduct since they could not kill him. Essentially, Mike became an anomaly between two systems, State and Federal.
An ambulance took the "Informant" to the hospital to be treated. It was later said by hospital staff according to hospital and police reports and statements obtained by Mike's attorney that the 'Informant" bragged to nurses, doctors and hospital staff that he was a police drug informant and had immunity that incriminated the police. Mike's attorney also had the "Informant's" blood tests results from the hospital that revealed large traces of drugs and alcohol in his system (polluted), while driving with 4 warrants for his arrest in a police impound vehicle for further proof of misconduct. All this evidence was suppressed by the courts to wrongfully give this informant immunity that incriminated the police.
There was no concern or medical emergency services called for Mike's daughter who had just been run over by the "Informant." There was no subsequent police investigation into what actually happened that day when the flash mob drug riots started on Richmond Street. Only a cover up on a police drug sting gone legally wrong.
After three days on the lamb, Mike turned himself into police who were looking to shoot Mike on site had they found him first being considered armed and dangerous.
At the horrible advice with conflicts of interest of Mike's late attorney, Mike not knowing any law for defense in a State courtroom at this time with untreated stressors, his attorney without Mike knowing used a case of "mistaken identity plea" to defend him in court, rather than going with a Self Defense of himself and others" or Military defense Mike wanted as a defense that he beforehand had argued with his attorney. Mike said it felt like he was being judged as some sort of maladjusted Vet by summary judgement, verses a father who committed a crime of passion out of 2nd. Amendment self defense for others, with the operational authority of a Federal Function as a peace officer with operational authority by Federal (Military) law with immunity also. Why his attorney did this Mike does not know being unlettered in law and stressed out, and was caught by Mike's understanding or misunderstanding when it was too late to say or do anything about it.
As mentioned earlier in this summary, Mike's found out about his attorney's conflict of interest issues when it was too late. To make matters worse, the Minnesota Courts recognized the underground law for witness identity protection immunity for the "Informant" and suppressed Mike Soto’s Federal Immunity granted to him under the emergency authority under 32 CFR Part 215.4 and .5 that violated his due process for the "Supremacy Clause". Despite Mike Soto’s Temporary Active Duty (TAD) orders that clearly spelled out why he was sent home by his command, Immunity afforded to him as part of his (TAD) orders by the US Navy were ignored to conceal a police misconduct cover up. The prosecutor alleged Mike Soto was simply home on leave when he broke up the drug sting and shot the informant in the leg because he was jealous over the alleged affair the "Informant" had with Soto's wife. THIS IS NOT TRUE, the "Informant" was a repulsive and obnoxious predator that terrorized his family. Mike and his wife are no longer married and have yet long reconciled their relationship, and are friends to date.
Ramsey County prosecutor's office at that time tried to intimidate Mike's commanding officer at the NRD office to turn Mike over to the authorities. And also to provide information to the whereabouts of U.S, Navy Seabee Mike Soto. A Detective Sergeant kept calling to harass and told the Navy office to turn Mike in to the authorities because they wanted to talk to him first, or else they were going to "shoot him on site." And they were going to send the news media against the Navy for harboring fugitives to disrupt their Federal Function for recruiting goals and get the Capt. fired. a continued civil disturbance by civil authority, more stress! That Mike had to defend also in a court room.
In the end, the State only had to prove the "Element" of the crime with no motive needed, since there was an eye witness who saw and testified against Mike for the shooting, neglecting self defense, or military defense issue, This same States witness did not see Mike's daughter get run over as the informant approached Mikes home from the street. A police wire placed on the "Informant" from this foiled drug sting exits; however, obtaining an audio transcript is all but impossible. more suppression of evidence for a continued injustice!
The "Informant" by the civil authority continued with his destructive drug using lifestyle and extensive criminal record well into the future which ultimately resulted in a 2016 death of a Fargo, North Dakota mother named Michelle Newell over a drug related dispute involving methamphetamine. According to the Fargo Police report, the "Informant" sold meth in Fargo because word on the street was "Drug sales were better there."
Mike often thinks back to what would have happened on that fateful sunny day on May 13, 1994 had the Navy not allowed him to return stateside to intervene and stop the drug crazed "Informant" from harming his family and community fueling the Meth. epidemic.
After all this, Mike Soto was wrongfully convicted and served six years in prison by the Ramsey County judicial system. Ramsey County Attorney's Office was hell bent on covering for the misconduct carried out by the St. Paul Police drug task force. All Mike tried to do was stand in the fray to defend his family and community while on active duty pursuant to Federal law while laboring under the U.C.M.J.. Mike used self defense and went to the defense of others in the community as he was trained to do just like a Peace Officer, and is nothing short of a true American hero.
Since Mike's release from prison in 2000, he has fought hard to get the truth out of what happened to him and his family on May 13, 1994. Now that truth has been brought to light before the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission where received a 5/3 vote in favor of a pardon for Mike. Mike goes back again before the Board of Pardons in June 2025 with the favorable outcome for Pardon by the.
Even though in 2004 Mike was finally approved to receive 100% disability from the VA, those funds are not enough to cover legal expenses and related costs. Exhausted $$.
This case is all well documented by the V.A. also. Mike is 100% Permanently Disabled from this case also from all the untreated Stressors aforementioned.
Thank you for your support for Mike. While your contributions are helping him defend himself and his family he mostly appreciates the prayers from supporters from around the world.
Military Fact: Mike who recently won his case before the "Clemency Review Commission" for the MN. State Board Of Pardons, That has gained more traction for his "Claims of Innocence" with newly discovered Witnesses, along with his still preserved evidence and witnesses illegally suppressed at Trial. To also further prove his case again by Post Conviction Petition before any Federal / State Courts for "exoneration", for dispersing a mob attack and violence by quelling a sudden and unexpected Civil Disturbance (Riot) out of 2nd. Amendment self defense for others, that assaulted Mike to kill him while on active duty to oppose a Federal (Military)Function via his Orders he was laboring under pursuant to duty by the U.C.M.J. and for other Federal (Military) Laws by the "Emergency Authority". That proves that Mike is not guilty of any assaults but that he was instead Mob Assaulted while being in 2nd. Amendment (Self Defense) for others, his Community, and innocent Citizens, and his dependents, not even thinking of himself (finally self defense).
God Bless all Souls so moved to donate Gifts $$$ to my Legal Defense Fund, and also for my destroyed family and burned out home. Mike is a 100% Permanently Disabled Veteran from this case, and my V.A. Benefits are exhausted in this economy for my case and for my destroyed family. I need your prayers also Ephesians 6:10 et. seq. and Psalms 94 and 91, and Isaiah 54:17 and Romans 13:4, and more relevant versus.
Mike Soto
