LAREDO, Texas — A South Texas man was sentenced for possession with the intent to distribute meth following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol and the Laredo Police Department.
Daniel Rodriguez, 46, was sentenced Oct. 22 by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to serve 360 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Rodriguez sold poison to people and despite having multiple opportunities to stop, he continued selling drugs. During the hearing, Rodriguez remarked he was a father, and the court asked if he sold these same drugs to his family. Additionally, the court questioned if he would stop selling drugs if one of his own children had overdosed. Rodriguez pleaded guilty April 2.
“The three-decade prison sentence sends a clear message to criminal organizations that there are serious consequences for trafficking controlled substances,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “HSI will continue to pursue cross-border conspiracy investigations to target dangerous individuals who threaten the security of the United States.”
According to court documents, on Jan. 3, authorities executed a search warrant at Rodriguez’s residence. While approaching the house, law enforcement saw Rodriguez flee from inside his home, during which time he attempted to discard a baggie that was later found to contain meth. After detaining Rodriguez, authorities searched the home and found more meth inside. He later admitted that the seized drugs belonged to him.
Rodriguez remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Leslie Cortez for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.