As criminal defense attorneys, we can only cringe at the fact that the defendant, “Cheke”, plead guilty (admitted his crime), only to be sentenced to 35 years; federal time.
It appears that after some investigation, police & federal agents managed to capture Esiquiel Rodriguez with less than 400 grams of meth, and a firearm. There’s more to this defendant however; he was also involved in a larger drug trafficking operation managed by some of the most dangerous drug cartels in Mexico.
JUN 04 (SAN ANTONIO) – A former major drug trafficker in the Piedras Negras “Plaza,” 46-year-old Esiquiel Rodriguez (aka “Cheke”), was sentenced in San Antonio today to 420 months in federal prison for federal drug and firearm violations announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Acting United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr., and San Antonio Police Chief Anthony Treviño.
Rodriguez was arrested in April 2013 by the San Antonio Police Department on a charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During a subsequent consensual search of his residence, investigators discovered a .357 caliber revolver. On September 29, 2014, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 300 grams of pure methamphetamine and one count of undocumented alien in possession of a firearm.
Although we aren’t aware of the minute details of the case, why the defendant was so harshly sentenced after pleading guilty & cooperating with the United States Attorney’s Office is an interesting matter of conversation. It begs the questions of whether or not the lawyer representing the defendant did their best job, or if there were other more serious criminal charges forgone as a result of the cooperation resulting in what might be a lesser sentence than if otherwise.
We Fight Federal Prosecutors!
The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, a full service criminal defense law firm based in Houston, TX, is equipped with the needed experience required to manage and fight a criminal case set for federal court.
There are a number of key differences in state and federal criminal cases. One of which is that the prosecution has nearly unlimited resources, and another being the extreme retribution, by way of harsh sentencing handed down by judges who sit on federal benches, on defendants who are found guilty as a result of being prosecuted by the United States.
If you’ve been charged, indicted, are out on bond, or believe you’re under investigation by the FBI, DEA, ATF, BLM, or any other federal law enforcement agency, the federal criminal defense lawyers here at the Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates can be of assistance.
Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers
Call us at 713-659-0909 to schedule an appointment to review the details of your case. Houston criminal defense lawyer Amber Spurlock, a former JAG officer and federal prosecutor, will be able to give you insight based on her experience as to what you can expect from the federal criminal justice apparatus, and how best to move forward with your case.
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