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Date: 04-06-2022
Case Style:
Case Number: 2:19-cr-00656
Judge:
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Nueces County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney: Sandra Eastwood
Description: Corpus Christi, Texas criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with distributing drugs and felony possession of a firearm.
A jury heard that Jonathan Rodriguez, Corpus Christi, was a co-conspirator in a multi-person crack cocaine trafficking scheme. From 2016 to 2019, Rodriguez managed a Corpus Christi residence from where drugs were distributed.
In May 2019, law enforcement responded to reports of gunfire between rival drug dealers at the property. A search of the residence revealed various amounts of crack cocaine and meth.
The jury also heard that Rodriguez had maintained a commercial storage unit in Corpus Christi. A search of the unit revealed $1.26 million in U.S. currency, more than 600 grams of cocaine, 52 rifles, shotguns and pistols.
At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury Rodriguez was merely a narcotics user, not a distributor and the evidence was insufficient. However, they saw video evidence of Rodriguez distributing narcotics within the house and surveillance footage at the commercial storage unit.
The jury did not believe defense claims and found him Rodriguez guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Davis S. Morales presided over trial and set sentencing for June 29. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Rodriguez has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Dennis E. Robinson prosecuted the case.
Outcome: Defendant was convicted by a jury.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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