United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN ANTONIO - In San Antonio today, 46-year-old Esiquiel (aka “Cheke”), a former major drug trafficker in the Piedras Negras “Plaza,” pleaded guilty to his leadership role in the importation and distribution of thousands of kilograms of narcotics into the United States from Mexico announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Joseph Arabit, Acting United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr., and San Antonio Police Chief Anthony Treviño.

Appearing before Chief United States District Judge Fred Biery this morning, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. By pleading guilty, Rodriguez admitted that since the early 2000s, he was one of the major drug traffickers in the Piedras Negras “Plaza” in Coahuila, Mexico, and was responsible for the transportation of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the United States.

Law enforcement investigations revealed that Rodriguez had strong associations with various large scale narcotics organizations, including the Los Zetas transnational drug cartel. From approximately 2007 through
2009, Rodriguez worked with various high level Zetas trafficking cocaine. The investigation revealed that between 2007 and 2009, Rodriguez and others smuggled a minimum of 500 kilograms of cocaine per month
from Mexico into the United States, and at least 6,000 kilograms per year during this time frame. Most of this cocaine was smuggled through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry to San Antonio and then distributed to other destinations throughout the United States. Many of the same persons and vehicles used to smuggle narcotics into the United States were used to smuggle millions of dollars of drug proceeds back into Mexico as well as weapons for the Zetas. These weapons were assault type weapons which were used to control the Plazas or drug trafficking areas controlled by the Zetas.

As a result of his guilty plea to the conspiracy charge, Rodriguez faces a sentence of 35 years in federal prison if the terms of the plea agreement are approved by the Court. Sentencing is scheduled for 8:30am on July 24, 2015, before Chief Judge Biery.

In a separate but related matter, Rodriguez was arrested in April 2013 by the San Antonio Police Department and charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On September 29, 2014, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 300 grams of pure methamphetamine. He faces between ten years and life in federal prison. Sentencing on the methamphetamine charge, which will be before U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia, has yet to be scheduled.

This charges resulted from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) investigation conducted by agents with the Drug Enforcement (DEA), San Antonio Police Department and
the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task (HIDTA), which is comprised of investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security (HSI), Federal Bureau of (FBI) , Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal (IRS-CI). The U.S. Border Patrol also assisted in this investigation.

The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.