Orange County Drug Lords Nabbed with 8KG Cocaine

GREENSBORO, NC – A massive cocaine seizure has landed two alleged drug kingpins in hot water. Epifanio Martinez Rodriguez, 40, and Felipe Carranza Rivera, 30, both Mexican nationals living in the U.S. illegally, were apprehended on November 17, 2021, after being caught with eight kilograms of pure cocaine.

Court documents reveal that a Confidential Source (CS) from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office orchestrated the sting. The CS had been communicating with Rodriguez and Rivera via social media, arranging the sale of the cocaine. The suspects were lured to Mebane for the deal.

Both men now face serious federal charges: conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute. If convicted, each stands to serve a minimum of ten years behind bars. A federal district court judge will decide any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration are jointly investigating this case. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. DeFranco handling the prosecution.

As per the legal process, Rodriguez and Rivera are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.