LAREDO, Texas — A failed toss of meth-laced crystals out a car window sparked the downfall of a local drug duo, as Roberto Rodriguez, 30, and Maria Del Carmen Sarabia, 33, were sentenced this week for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution ring. The couple, both Laredo residents, admitted to conspiring to sell the powerful stimulant, with Rodriguez receiving 121 months and Sarabia 70 months behind bars.
The crash-and-burn moment came Jan. 12, 2017, when Laredo police pulled over a vehicle driven by Rodriguez. Sarabia was riding shotgun. Inside, officers found methamphetamine crystals scattered across the driver’s seat — the remnants of a desperate attempt to ditch evidence. Rodriguez was cuffed on the spot. A search of their shared apartment later revealed more: a stash of meth packaged and ready to sell.
But it wasn’t over. Investigators tapped into phone records and uncovered chillingly casual conversations between the pair discussing additional meth hidden at the apartment. Those calls sealed Sarabia’s fate. A follow-up raid netted even more narcotics, and she was taken into custody, formally charged in the conspiracy.
By Jan. 19, 2017, law enforcement had recovered a total of 228 grams of methamphetamine linked directly to the couple. That haul, combined with evidence of distribution packaging and coordination, painted a clear picture of ongoing criminal enterprise. Rodriguez, deemed a leader in the operation by visiting U.S. District Judge Hilda G. Tagle, faced stiffer punishment.
Judge Tagle’s ruling handed Rodriguez 121 months in federal prison and Sarabia 70. Both will face supervised release upon their return to society—three years for Rodriguez, two for Sarabia. They remain in custody as they await transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with critical support from the Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno prosecuted the case, closing the book on a gritty chapter in Laredo’s ongoing battle with drug trafficking.
Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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