Tommy Rodriguez, Methamphetamine Distribution, Texas 2024

Crime Pays in the Short Term, But Justice Catches Up: Tommy Rodriguez, 36, of Dallas, was sentenced to serve 180 months in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that operated in the Dallas area.

The case, one of the largest in the state, involved 16 defendants who were charged and convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in the Dallas area. The defendants, who were affiliated with the Dallas-based methamphetamine trafficking organization, were involved in the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine to various locations in the Dallas area.

The North Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phelesa Guy. The case is a testament to the combined efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in the Northern District of Texas to dismantle and disrupt large-scale narcotics trafficking organizations.

“There is a high cost to choosing drug trafficking as an occupation,” said U.S. Attorney John Parker. “The combined efforts of this office and our law enforcement partners will keep it that way.”

The other defendants charged and convicted in the case were sentenced as follows:

• Eduardo Zavala-Ruiz, aka “Gold Coins,” “Primo,” “Lalo,” “Lalin,” was sentenced to 240 months in prison.
• Zachary Whiteside, aka “Sharkey,” “Shark,” “Zach,” was sentenced to 214 ½ months in prison.
• Jose Mario Chavez-Bravo, aka “Rafael Lua-Maguna,” “Mickey,” was sentenced to 200 months in prison.
• Nicole Leedy, aka “Nicky,” was sentenced to 188 months in prison.
• Christopher Michael Eller, aka “Chris,” was sentenced to 135 months in prison.
• Rafael Hurtado, aka “Rafi,” “Ralphie,” was sentenced to 135 months in prison.
• Kyle Travis Kamp was sentenced to 135 months in prison.
• Manuel Eguia, aka “Twenty,” was sentenced to 108 months in prison.
• Frank Allen Lonero, aka “Frankie,” was sentenced to 90 months in prison.
• Richard Islas, aka “Gordo,” was sentenced to 87 months in prison.
• Rene San-Miguel was sentenced to 63 months in prison.
• Monica Maldonado-Pena was sentenced to 51 months in prison.
• Albert Lee Longoria was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
• Francisco Millan-Madrid was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
• Kirstin Perviance was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
• Karla Julissa Jimenez was sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Tommy Rodriguez is one of 16 defendants charged and convicted in the case. One defendant remains a fugitive. The case is a result of a 2014 investigation that revealed the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in the Dallas area.

The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to dismantle and disrupt large-scale narcotics trafficking organizations in the Northern District of Texas.

Crime Pays in the Short Term, But Justice Catches Up: In a statement, U.S. Attorney John Parker emphasized the high cost of choosing drug trafficking as an occupation. The combined efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in the Northern District of Texas will continue to keep it that way.

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