Francisco Javier Rodriguez Arreola, a 45-year-old Mexican national, was handed a 40-year federal prison sentence on Tuesday for his role as a top supplier in the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, announced the sentencing of twelve CJNG members for drug trafficking, including Rodriguez Arreola, who was arrested in 2021 after illegally reentering the United States.
Rodriguez Arreola was a pivotal figure in the CJNG’s methamphetamine distribution network. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute nearly 200 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine worth up to $9.9 million. During his plea hearing, he admitted to coordinating shipments from Mexico to Dallas.
Investigation revealed that Rodriguez Arreola had close ties to the CJNG leadership, including direct communication with individuals who reported to El Mencho, the cartel’s leader. He served as a broker and planner of methamphetamine deliveries, a role that included counterintelligence gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other CJNG members were sentenced for their involvement in the drug ring. Ricardo Hernandez Zarate received 480 months for conspiracy and money laundering, while Pedro Hernandez Zarate got 360 months. Uriel Marin Gaona, Benito Diaz Hernandez, and Marcos Garcia Reyes were each sentenced to between 120 and 87 months for their roles.
This sentencing marks a significant victory in the fight against one of Mexico’s most violent drug cartels.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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