Jose Soto was designated by the Attorney General to serve as the Acting United States Marshal (USM) for the Eastern District of Texas in January 2025.
USM Soto began his career with the United States Marshals Service (USMS) in 2008 as a Deputy United States Marshal in the District of Puerto Rico. In 2012, he was promoted to Judicial Security Inspector in the District of South Carolina, where he was responsible for the security of federal courthouses, members of the judiciary, and court personnel.
In 2016, USM Soto was promoted and transferred to USMS Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, where he served as Acting Chief and Assistant Chief in the Judicial Security Division, Office of Court Security. In this role, he managed a security program overseeing approximately 5,300 Court Security Officers. In June 2018, he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Director for the Judicial Security Division, where he directed senior managers and more than 250 personnel responsible for protecting the judicial process.
USM Soto returned to field operations in December 2019 as Chief Deputy United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas, where he oversaw the district’s daily operations. In April 2024, he was designated by the Attorney General to serve as the Acting United States Marshal for the Northern District of Iowa.
Prior to joining the USMS, USM Soto served as a Communication Specialist in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During his military service, he was detailed to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and supported criminal investigations activities. From 2006 to 2008, he worked with the United States Court as a Data Quality Analyst, where he reviewed and audited federal court records to ensure accuracy and completeness.
USM Soto holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Caribbean University and is certified in Mediation and Conflict Resolution.