Antonio “Toñito” Soto Díaz was born on August 9, 1949, in Patillas, Puerto Rico and died on January 4, 2016.

He was a Puerto Rican politician and former Senator.

He was commonly known as El Chuchín.

Antonio Soto Díaz was the son of farmer Jesús Soto de Jesús and Juana Díaz Torres.

He attended elementary school at the Second Unit School of Pitahaya in Arroyo, and in 1967 graduated from Carmen Bozello de Huke High School.

During the same year, he began his studies at the Guayama Catholic University, transferring to the Ponce campus later.

Diaz completed his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in French, in 1977.

Antonio Diaz had described himself in an interview as a “hard worker”.

Ostensibly, he said he worked as a barber, school teacher, butcher, carpenter, among other jobs.

In 1978, Soto entered law studies in Ponce.

During the same time, he entered the professional world, developing an interest in auto sales.

In the year 1989, he became an auto salesman when he had moved to Florida.

In the year 1996, he returned to Puerto Rico, establishing his own auto dealer called Toñito Soto Auto Sales, in Arroyo.

He was elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico for the Guayama District at the 2008 general elections.

Antonio served in various positions including; the President of the Committee of Commerce and Co-operativism, as well as Vice-president of the Committees of Banking, Consumer Affairs and Public Corporations.

He was also a member of the Committees of Agriculture and Government.

After Diaz had resigned from the Senate, officials formally accused him of tax evasion and illicit enrichment.

He pled guilty in December 2015 to the charges as part of a settlement in which he would have to return approximately $200,000 to the government.

In 1996, he returned to Puerto Rico, establishing his own auto dealer called Toñito Soto Auto Sales, in Arroyo.

Antonio Soto Díaz was found dead in bed by his wife Agnes López Santiago on January 4, 2016.

Antonio Soto Díaz passed away at 66 yrs old.