Eagle Pass Businessman Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution
In Del Rio, Texas, on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Felipe Carmona-Rodriguez, 51, of Eagle Pass, Texas was sentenced on federal narcotics trafficking charges announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., DEA Special Agent in Charge Joseph Arabit, Houston Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
Carmona-Rodriguez was convicted by a federal jury on April 11, 2015 of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine from January 1, 2009 until March 21, 2014, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine.
Appearing before U. S. District Judge Alia Moses, Carmona-Rodriguez was sentenced to 262 months for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine from January 1, 2009 until March 21, 2014. He was also sentenced to 240 months on each of the two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. These sentences will be served concurrently. He was also ordered to pay a $60,000 money judgment to the United States.
Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing showed that Carmona-Rodriguez had approximately six persons distributing cocaine for him. The evidence showed that Carmona-Rodriquez used his home and two businesses, Felipe’s Auto Detail Shop and Felipe’s Auto Sales, as fronts to sell cocaine. Carmona-Rodriguez hired others to sell cocaine for him and collected the street tax from these dealers on behalf of the Mexican Mafia. It was revealed that Carmona-Rodriguez had been involved in the distribution of narcotics for twenty-eight (28) years and had assisted in the transportation of $500,000 – $1,000,000 in drug proceeds from Chicago to Mexico on a number of occasions.
The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and United States Border Patrol. Also assisting in the investigation was the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ralph Paradiso and Timothy Duree.
