Florida Duo Gets 73 Years for Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Gun Crimes

Tampa, FL – In a major blow to the city’s narcotics trade, a Tampa man and woman were sentenced to 73 years in federal prison for their roles in a fentanyl and cocaine distribution ring.

Elias Xavier Rosario Torres (26, Tampa) and Veronica Estefania Rodriguez Pinuela (23, Tampa) were found guilty by a jury on March 8, 2024, of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of cocaine, possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

Rosario Torres was sentenced to 38 years in federal prison for his crimes, while Rodriguez Pinuela received a 35-year sentence. The harsh sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle.

The case against Rosario Torres and Rodriguez Pinuela began on March 8, 2022, when Tampa Police Department officers stopped the couple for a traffic infraction. During the stop, officers discovered two backpacks containing nearly a kilogram of cocaine, 16 grams of fentanyl, a Glock 23 handgun, two loaded magazines, and additional ammunition.

The Glock 23 was modified with a chip that converted the handgun into a machine gun, making it an even more deadly threat. The discovery of the machine gun and firearms proved to be a crucial piece of evidence in the case against the couple.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Rosario Torres was a convicted felon at the time of the offense, having been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Chang, James C. Preston, and Samantha E. Beckman.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities across the country. The program brings together law enforcement and community leaders to develop targeted strategies to address the root causes of violence.

The sentencing of Rosario Torres and Rodriguez Pinuela serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of narcotics and firearms trafficking in Tampa and beyond. As the city continues to grapple with the effects of the opioid epidemic, cases like this one highlight the need for continued law enforcement efforts to disrupt and dismantle these networks.

The harsh sentences handed down in this case are a testament to the commitment of law enforcement agencies to keeping Tampa’s streets safe from the scourge of narcotics and firearms trafficking.